A number of eminent persons and well-known Activists have rallied to the support of writer Arundhati Roy, whose article on Operation Green Hunt has come under the scanner of the Chhattisgarh police. They have issued a public statement condemning the threatened action by the State's Director-General of Police, who “is reported to be seriously examining whether Ms. Roy should be prosecuted under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA)/Unlawful Activities Prevention...

The Right to Food Campaign on Tuesday expressed its disappointment with the “narrow manner'' in which the proposed food security Bill was being formulated and sought a public debate on the subject. They resolved to intensify their efforts to secure a legal right to food and nutrition for all. At a meeting with Union Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, a delegation of Activists said the proposal to provide 25 kg...

The battle over genetically modified brinjal may resume shortly as an environment ministry agency readies its ammunition against arguments that the vegetable, the introduction of which has been halted by a government moratorium, threatens biodiversity and is unsafe for human consumption. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) will be going up against environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who was responsible for the decision to suspend cultivation of Bt brinjal after the panel...

P. Chidambaram today took on civil society organisations for showing sympathy towards Maoists by training guns at social Activist and writer Arundhati Roy. “If the CPI (Maoist) overthrows the established authority and seizes power, will they allow any human rights organisation to function in this country? Will all those, who write 33-page articles, be allowed to write 33-page articles? Will there be a magazine to publish a 33-page article?” the Union...

The uncertainty over the number of people to benefit from the proposed food security law has abated. With Sonia Gandhi in her new role as National Advisory Council chairperson keeping a vigil, the Planning Commission on Saturday dropped its reluctance to accept Tendulkar committee's report putting the size of the below poverty line (BPL) population at 37.2%. The Planning Commission had so far been keen on going with its own...