Om Puri at Ramlila grounds says :there should be exams before distributing tickets.

Pranab says that the government's Lokpal bill will not be withdrawn (which team Anna wants) but amended.

If you've just joined us the Lokpal bill comes up for debate in Parliament at 11 am tomorrow.

The all-party meeting held by the Speaker has ended.

Pranab Mukherjee speaking exclusively on CNN IBN says due process of legislation will have to be followed if the Lokpal bill is up for debate tomorrow. He says the government will try to have a debate tomorrow and warns that the government does not have the absolute majority to pass the bill. Therefore support of all parties is necessary and all parties will have to clarify their stand.

In the US, hurricane alerts have extended up the East Coast today, affecting some 65 million people, as Irene moved past the Bahamas and headed north towards North Carolina, where it is expected to hit tomorrow, reports the Daily Beast.

The National Hurricane Center issued warnings to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and the coast of Massachusetts. Though winds at the center of the hurricane have died down slightly from 115 mph to 110 mph, making Irene a Category 2 storm, officials warned it could strengthen as it approached the coast.

Quick takes.

• BJP asks UPA to clarify which bill will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.
• Vilasrao Deshmukh meets Anna Hazare at Ramlila
• Speaker is holding an all-party meet ahead of the debate tomorrow.

In other news: Author PG Wodehouse was worried about how much the Nazis would pay him for his radio broadcasts from wartime Germany, MI5 files have shown.

The bbc.co.uk report says he always maintained his humorous 1941 broadcasts of life in a German internment camp were to thank his fellow US prisoners for their support.

But files declassified by the National Archives show MI5 had serious doubts about the British writer's account. They said he was not always as "frank and ingenious as he pretends".  Read

Anna Hazare supporters have begun protesting outside the residence of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, shouting slogans in favour of the
Gandhian and his demand for a strong Lokpal. 

Anna supporters have for the past few days picketed houses of MPs, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and BJP leader L K Advani, after Hazare's campaign managers called on people to protest outside residences of MPs.

• Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan to hold additional charge as Goa Governor.
• V Purushothaman will be new Mizoram Governor
• Syed Ahmed will replace Farooq as Jharkhand Governor
• Senior Congress leader Ram Naresh Yadav will be the new Governor of Madhya Pradesh
• Jharkhand Governor M O H Farooq appointed Kerala Governor.
• Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah named new Governor of Tamil Nadu.

Now Team Anna urges supporters to gherao Rahul Gandhi's house. Yesterday, it was the PM's house. Tomorrow?

Will DMK extract its pound of flesh tomorrow? 

R Rajagopalan tweets: Speculation is Delhi is that the DMK may not vote with UPA2 on Saturday if the Lokpal Bill takes184 (voting) for Lokpal. Congress leaders busy contacting Chennai.

On rediff.com Ram Kelkar's opinion piece on the Anna Hazare movement. Good intentions aside, setting up a kangaroo court system in a headlong rush with a gun to the head is hardly the best way to fix an undeniably broken system.

Read

News flash: The bbc.co.uk reports that there has been an explosion at the United Nations building in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The UN said it was a bomb. Unconfirmed reports speak of a number of casualties in the incident.

A police helicopter is circling the building and smoke is billowing out, reports said. Abuja was the scene of a car bombing at police headquarters in June, blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram.

In news, other than Anna Hazare...

British Tornado jets fired precision-guided missiles against a large bunker in Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, the UK Ministry of Defence has said in a report in the bbc.co.uk. The Tornadoes took off from RAF Marham in Norfolk on a long-range strike mission last night. Read

The Parliament complex today witnessed high drama when a supporter of Anna Hazare shouted slogans in favour of the Gandhian before being taken away by
security personnel.
The middle-aged man, who identified himself as Manjeet rom Rohtak in Haryana, had come to Parliament on a visitor's pass. He was in a queue along with visitors at around 3 pm, when he took off his shirt, revealing a white undershirt with Hazare's photo and 'I am Anna' written on it and shouted slogans in favour of the Gandhian and attacking the government. Security personnel rushed towards the man and took him away. 

Reactions to Rahul's speech in Parliament.

R Rajagopalan on Twitter: Yesterday the PM saluted Anna and today Rahul pulled out the rug from Anna feet, says a senior BJP MP. A Union Minister of state commented: "Yesterday PM was constructive and today Rahul is not so constructive".

Read more of Justice Hegde's ire:

"I can't justify these things that you give command to Parliament. No (it should not be done)," he said. "I have been a judge and I believe in certain democratic principles. And to me, it's very difficult to digest," he said. 

Hegde said after the  exercise of joint drafting of the bill failed, "we (Team Anna) said you (the Government) send ours (our version of the bill) also together with the Government version and place it before Parliament. 

"Beyond that, I will not go further," he said.

Possibly the only voice of reason in

Member of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal bill, Justice Santosh Hegde, today strongly disapproved of Anna Hazare's insistence on "having his way" in
Parliament and sought to make out a case for ending his fast even while continuing the anti-corruption fight. 

Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge who has emerged as the face of anti-corruption crusade in Karnataka, said the demand that "my dictum should be accepted by Parliament" is, in fact, demeaning to the Lok Sabha. "I feel I am not in Team Anna any more by the way things are going. These (telling Parliament what to do) are not democratic things."

Just in: Parliament is likely to debate the Lokpal Bill tomorrow after the BJP got the session adjourned saying it was not prepared to debate the issue at such a short notice.

But Kiran Bedi continues to insist that the Parliament has to end the Lokpal debate today. She appeals to Parliament to sit late today.

A protestor at Ramlila Maidan carries a placard saying Go back PM. Back to?

In an unprecedented move that will surely lead to confrontation, Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla, using her special powers, appointed Justice RA Mehta, retired judge of Gujarat high court, as Lokayukta of the state, says our correspondent from Ahmedabad.

With Raj Bhavan making the appointment that has bypassed the Narendra Modi's government which was sitting on the file regarding the appointment of Lokayukta, the post vacant in the state since 2004, Gujarat leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil told the media that the Governor had to use her special powers to issue the notification appointing Justice Mehta as Lokayukta because the state government had failed to do so.

Full report on rediff.com shortly

Team Anna insists on Parliament ending Lokpal debate today. Shanti Bhushan says that under Section 388 the bill could easily be discussed the moment it is presented in the Lok Sabha.

Kiran Bedi says Parliament should sit late tonight to debate the issue.

Bhushan says the Parliament can have a session tomorrow as well, which incidentally, is being done. See our 10:48 pm post 

Just in: Debate on Jan Lokpal bill to begin at 2.30 pm in Parliament today.

The government to assure discussion on three sticking points.

The government cannot guarantee how the House will respond ahead of the debate.

Sheela Bhatt says that the Narendra Modi government is likely to challenge the unprecedented appointment of retired Justice R A Mehta as Lokayukta  governor. The Modi government has been resisting this for the last eight years.

Arvind Kejriwal at Ramlila says anti-social elements have been tarnishing the team's image. Says the team has not been holding secret meetings, as suggested by TV channels.

Prashant Bhushan says the team wants a special session of Parliament and says Anna has written to the PM saying the protest is not against any party or individual.

At the Ramlila Ground, the mood is more conciliatory as Arvind Kejriwal says Anna Hazare apologises for any harsh words used against the PM.

The Hindu report on Rajiv Gandhi's killers.

The Union Home Ministry has communicated to the Tamil Nadu government the rejection of the clemency petitions of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, convicts given the death penalty in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, by President Pratibha Patil, thereby paving the way for their execution, highly placed police sources said last night. Read

Dr Farah Zahra writes on how working out a relatively more precise and mutually agreed definition of what may constitute 'minimum' could potentially add further stability to the nuclear equation, but is patently of no interest to India. In the Daily Times.

Read

In other news, before Parliament reconvenes at 2.15 pm.

Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, who masterminded the crushing defeat of the French empire in Indochina at the battle of Dien Bien Phu and widely considered to be one of the greatest military leaders of the 20th century, will reached a more personal milestone yesterday -- his 100th birthday.

Read it in the Diplomat

Sri Sri Ravishankar echoing Team Anna says Hazare will only break his fast only after written assurance from the government. This has been the demand since last night when the team sent the PM their reply through 'Adarsh' mediator Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Sri Sri however, lauded Rahul's suggestion that Lokpal be made a constitutional body, but said there was no immediacy. It was only a long-term solution.

Sri Sri said the team was disappointed that Rahul chose to remain silent on way forward for the Jan Lokpal bill.

Shanti Bhushan responds to Rahul's speech: 

"It is the duty of a elected representative to listen to the voters. The question of this movement being detrimental to democracy is not accurate. I support Rahul Gandhi's suggestion that the Lokpal be made a constitutional body, but it must be done today.

"It is completely possible for Parliament to pass a constitutional amendment to be passed in 24 hours. It has been done before."

Just in: The Gujarat governor appoints retired Justice R A Mehta as Lokayukta of the state, bypassing the government. The Modi government has been resisting this for the last eight years.

Read Sheela Bhatt's report: Writ against Modi govt's failure to name Lokayukta

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2.15 pm.

Swami Agnivesh is against passing the Jan Lokpal bill in a hurry is a wrong move. It has to be debated in Parliament. Completely contrary to Kejriwal's views.

Rediff.com's Toral Varia reporting from Delhi says MNS boss Raj Thackeray has sent a message to Anna Hazare. Thackeray's PA Vishvambhar Chaudhary says the MNS leader and his partymen were with Anna in their fight against corruption and asked the 74-year-old Gandhian to take care of his health.

Anna has lost six kilos, but his condition remains stable, on day 11 of his fast against corruption.

BJP reacts: Don't give sermons when the government has been dilly-dallying on graft. The party says the Lokpal bill is malafide, while the Jan Lokpal is bonafide.

Rahul today conceded that the graft existed. His speech in the Lok Sabha today

It's confirmed.

Shahbaz Taseer, son of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, was kidnapped from Lahore's Gulberg area, DawnNews reported. He was abducted on gunpoint by four kidnappers, police said.

Shahbaz's father, Salman Taseer, one of the country's strongest voices against religious extremism, was shot dead by a member of his own security detail outside an Islamabad cafe on January 4, 2011.

BJP on Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament today: Both Lokpal and Jan Lokpal are valid.

Team Anna: Welcome Rahul's suggestion of  making the Lokpal a body like the Election Commission.

Medha Patkar: Rahul didn't heed people's sentiments

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the CBI on the bail pleas of three top executives of Reliance ADAG firm, arrested for their alleged involvement in
the 2G spectrum scam.
Agreeing to hear their pleas, a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi asked the investigating agency to file its reply on the bail pleas of ADAG Group MD Gautam Doshi, President Surendra Pipara and Senior Vice President Hari Nair.
The trio have challenged the rejection of their bail pleas by the Delhi High Court which, on May 23, had said, "The gravity of the offence itself is sufficient to deny bail".

They are in jail since April 20.

Team Anna has not budged from its stand.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a Team Anna member, said meeting with CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat here. He said Hazare had made it clear that he will break his fast only if Parliament passes a resolution "adopting or indicating clearly" that the Lokpal, which will be passed, includes the three issues.

Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha on Twitter: L K Advani: I know what are the flaws in provisions of Jan Lokpal Bill due to which it will not get passed.. I tried to explain to Team Anna.

Remember, team Anna members Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi had met Advani yesterday, much to the ire of the Congress.

On Twitter, but as yet unconfirmed.

Nirupama Subramanian: Bad news. Salman Taseer's son Shahbaz Taseer was abducted in Lahore this morning from the Gulberg area, Pak TV channels are saying

Javed Akhtar on Twitter: The perfect lokpal bill is some where between Anna's passion &  tenacity and Aruna's wisdom and sagacity.

Akhtar is a Rajya Sabha MP

Anna Hazare has helped articulate public sentiment. Overruling Parliament sets dangerous precedent.

Rahul's speech in Parliament ends.

Rahul: We must not weaken the democratic process. The Parliamentary process may be lengthy, but it offers checks and balances. We must not weaken the democratic process. Make Lokpal a constitutional body

PK Bansal shouts: Are you objecting to Rahul Gandhi's speech?

Speaker Meira Kumar says she has allowed Rahul to speak and asks the house to hear him out.

Rahul finally allowed to speak.

Opposition disrupts Rahul's speech. PK Bansal, Pranab Mukherjee rise to the rescue.

Rahul: Thank Anna for raising the issue of graft in Parliament. Effective laws are required, have serious reservations about Lokpal alone solving corruption.

Priyanka in Parliament to watch Rahul speak

An Associated Press report says that China's new Communist Party boss in Tibet passed on the chance to bash the Dalai Lama in his first public remarks since taking office, a shift from the angry rhetoric his predecessor routinely leveled against the exiled Buddhist leader.

Chen Guoquan focused on development and stability and made no reference to political struggle in an account of his speech published Friday in the official Tibet Daily newspaper. Read more

Kiran Bedi says the hooliganism at the Ramlila ground was not by Hazare supporters.

This is what happened last night

Prashant Bhushan addressing the media says mere discussion of the Jan Lokpal bill will not do, Parliament will have to pass a resolution indicating that Lokpal Bill covers three sticky issues.

The government, however, wants an assurance Anna will break his fast, before the debate begins.

Logjam begins as well...

Meanwhile, at the Ramlila ground, rains have failed to deter the enthusiasm of Anna Hazare supporters as they braved the downpour holding the tri-colour.
Moderate rains, which hit the venue of the fast of the 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader at around 3:15 am, woke up scores of protesters. Members of the core committee of Hazare's team, who were sleeping or sitting besides the main podium, ran for over.

Our correspondent in Delhi says that Anna Hazare has written a letter to Prime Minister which is being taken to 7 RCR by Arvind Kejriwal. A copy of the Jan Lokpal bill has been enclosed to that letter.

The Supreme Court has sought a report from Home Ministry on Anna's arrest by September 2. 

In another separate meeting, Law Minister Salman Khurshid met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss a way out to end the deadlock.
Government sources last night said that a motion will be brought to facilitate a combined discussion on the Lokpal Bill, the Jan Lokpal Bill brought out by Hazare as also the drafts prepared by activist Aruna Roy and Jai Prakash Narain. 

Consultations were under way the exact wording of the motion, they said.

Congress MPs Sanjay Nirupam, Anu Tandon and Jagdambika Pal gave the notice on the debate for the Jan Lokpal bill to Parliament today.

On the sidelines, Sandeep Dikshit and Pawan Bansal have met to discuss the modalities.

Toral Varia adds that the Congress believes that Team Anna is now trying to give the issue a political colour.

"When Vilasrao Deshmukh has already been meeting Team Anna to try and break the deadlock, what is the need for them to go knocking on the BJP's door? " said a miffed Congressman.

Yesterday, Team Anna met with LK Advani, almost immediately after it sent it's reply to the PM via Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Rediff.com's Toral Varia says that Parliamentary Affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has told reporters that the Jan Lokpal Bill has not been listed on the board for discussion today, indicating that it could still be some time before there is some sort of an agreement between Team Anna and the Parliament.

He said, "so far no notice has come to us for the discussion. If we get the notice by any member of Parliament the we will think about it." A source from the government said that the, "the manner in which Team Anna has been going about meeting political parties (read BJP) to seek consensus, has upset the government."

Incidentally, Section 193 means there will be no voting on the Jan Lokpal bill

The challenge that lies ahead for Rahul is to clear the mess created by the hardline stance taken by P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal after April 2011. Also, like his mother, Sonia, Rahul has been active in finding ways to connect with alternative forces like Aruna Roy and others, writes Sheela Bhatt.

Right now, he is the decision maker, although he has been criticised for keeping mum on the issue, apart from saying that he is worried.

See the full story on Rediff.com shortly

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt says for many Congress leaders it was a big change to see Rahul Gandhi moving around in his SUV in Lutyens' Delhi playing the role of resolving the crisis created by the fast of Anna Hazare. After returning from the US, Rahul has been working behind the scenes, round the clock, to break the deadlock over Anna Hazare's fast.

Early this morning, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his second meeting since August 24, which was at 1.30 am.

Incidentally, the Parliament will have two extra sittings in the ongoing Monsoon Session - this Saturday as also the next Saturday. The meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha yesterday decided to have the two Saturdays as working days, and a similar decision is likely to be taken by the Lok Sabha.

The sitting of both the Houses is not taking place on September 1 on account of Ganesh Chaturthi. The Houses may not sit even on August 31 if Eid is celebrated that day.

Our correspondent from Delhi confirms that the Business Advisory Committee has just decided to convene Parliament tomorrow

Good morning.

First up: After high voltage drama yesterday, the government has agreed to debate all three versions of the Lokpal bill -- the government's, the Jan Lokpal and Aruna Roy's version. Team Anna, however, want only their version to be debated. Govt not biting.

However, news now comes in that the debate on all the versions of the Lokpal bill will be put before Parliament tomorrow, since the modalities are still being worked out. 

Stay with us.