Bangalore, Aug 27 (IANS) Art of Living founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has urged Anna Hazare to end his fast before 6 p.m. Saturday, while former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde hoped that a solution on the Lokpal bill issue would emerge by evening.
"Sri Sri insists that Anna breaks his fast at any cost before 6 p.m. today, whether there is a resolution or not," a one-line statement issued by the Art of Living said.
Ravi Shankar is a prominent figure in the India Against Corruption movement that is spearheading the agitation under the leadership of Hazare for strong measures to curb corruption.
Hazare's fast entered its 12th day Saturday. The social activist has said he will end the fast only if parliament passes a resolution accepting his three demands of bringing the lower bureaucracy, as also the Lokayuktas in the states, under the Lokpal and drawing up a Citizen's Charter for government departments.
Hegde also expressed hope that a solution to end Hazare's fast would emerge by Saturday evening.
"I am hopeful," Hegde, a civil society member of the Lokpal bill joint drafting committee, told reporters here.
Hegde has been urging Hazare for the last three days to end his fast but continue his agitation for a strong Lokpal bill.
He said though he differed with Hazare on setting terms for parliament, he was still a member of Team Anna.