New Delhi: Expressing concern over the deteriorating health of fasting Anna Hazare, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday urged the social activist to end his anti-graft hunger strike.

According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Manmohan Singh wrote a letter to Hazare and said the parliamentary standing committee would consider his version of the Lokpal bill if Speaker Meira Kumar permitted it.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi met the Prime Minister Tuesday amid talks between the government and Team Anna to find common ground on the contentious Lokpal bill.

Congress sources said Gandhi met the prime minister in parliament. Associates of Hazare, whose fast for a strong Lokpal bill entered day eight Tuesday, had said Monday that he was willing to engage with the government at the top political level to find a solution.

Pranab Mukherjee to negotiate with Team Anna

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been appointed to hold talks with Team Anna on the Lokpal bill, activist Arvind Kejriwal said Tuesday.

“We were called for discussions by (Law Minister) Salman Khurshid. He informed me that Pranab Mukherjee will hold talks with us,” Kejriwal told the crowds at Ramlila Maidan, where Anna Hazare’s fast to demand a stringent Lokpal bill entered its eighth day.

He said Hazare will appoint a team to speak with Mukherjee.

Earlier the Law Minister Salman Khurshid met Arwind Kejriwal Tuesday. Both said there was no progress yet.

“We met for the first time today (Tuesday). Discussions were held on the key issues,” Kejriwal told Star News after the meeting.

“There has not been any progress. I am going to Anna Hazare and will comment only after discussing it with him,” he said.

The government called Team Anna for talks as 74-year-old Hazare’s entered the eighth day.

“I met Kejriwal and held formal discussions to understand the problem. There is problem and it should be solved. I wish there is a breakthrough. All of us want things to move and we don’t want the stalemate to continue,” said Khurshid.

“If something meaningful comes out then we will send it to the senior leadership,” he said, adding that something positive should come out of the talks.

The law minister said the government had been hurt by some of the slogans and speeches made by Team Anna. This, he said, should not happen; all are fighting for democracy and a corruption free country.