The Citizens' Right to Grievance Redress Bill, 2011, marks the next milestone in the UPA's mission to enact a series of rights-based legislation. Drawing on the framework of the Right to Information Act, the Bill seeks to ensure that the common man receives efficient delivery of goods and services that he is entitled to - which may have been delayed. The Bill will empower citizens to take action against the...

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee tonight formally revived security operations against Maoists after the rebels refused to extend a ceasefire, spoke of war, criticised her peace envoys and appeared to escalate hostilities by killing two Trinamul supporters. Joint forces in pursuit were locked in a gunfight with the killers till late tonight at a Purulia village in the foothills of the Ayodhya hills. “I will take away the guns of the Maoists. The...

Wajahat Habibullah, chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, speaks to Kavita Chowdhury on reservation for Muslims, the RTI Act and the controversy over withdrawal of AFSPA in Kashmir. You had recently visited Rajasthan. In Bharatpur district’s Gopalgarh village, some members of the minority community, Mev Muslims, were killed and the state administration was accused of mishandling the matter. What is your view? A communal riot is an unpardonable crime. The state government has taken...

-ANI Right To Information (RTI) crusader and veteran social activist Anna Hazare's key aide Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the media needed to refocus on the Lokpal Bill rather than on allegations and mudslinging incidents. Kejriwal said it was imperative that everyone, including the media, worked towards the common goal of bringing a strong Lokpal Bill. "Its important that the media gets back on track and works towards the target. These allegations and...

Many people including members of Team Anna have expressed reservations about the way in which their campaign has been developing, and some have even resigned. This raises questions about the real aim of the leadership around Anna. Is it really what it is proclaimed to be? Is the aim to get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by parliament? Team Anna has repeatedly stated that they have just a one-point agenda: to get...