India's parliament has moved closer to a deal on an anti-corruption bill that could end a nearly two-week hunger strike by a 74-year-old activist.

Lawmakers from the ruling Congress party and main opposition held a special parliamentary session Saturday in response to the hunger strike by Anna Hazare who has demanded that parliament adopt his version of an anti-corruption bill.

His demands include the creation of an independent agency to monitor politicians and government officials.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged lawmakers to find a solution to the corruption problem in India, where a series of high-profile corruption scandals has made national headlines.

On Friday, the heir to India's most powerful political family, Rahul Gandhi, warned that the country's democracy is under threat from Hazare's popular anti-corruption campaign. Instead of a bill, Gandhi proposed creating a constitutional body to fight corruption.

Hazare's aides say he will end his fast if lawmakers pass a resolution backing some of his demands.

Earlier this month, the Congress party introduced an anti-corruption bill that would create a civil organization with the powers to investigate ministers and bureaucrats. But Hazare rejected the bill and called for parliament to pass his version, saying it would do more to hold the prime minister and judicial branch accountable.

Hazare's fast has united millions of Indians against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government.

Hazare has been encamped in an open-air venue in New Delhi with thousands of supporters.

Mr. Singh's government and members of the opposition have urged Hazare to let doctors feed him intravenously, but the activist has refused.

Popular outrage over corruption has grown steadily in India in the past year, amid a series of high-profile corruption scandals. They include the sale of telecommunications licenses at below-market value and many financial irregularities in India's hosting of the Commonwealth Games last year.