-The Telegraph The dam burst today. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has issued a public statement on the AMRI fire and subsequent arrests, demanding the immediate release of those “not responsible for day-to-day operations of any business”. “Those who are not found guilty and are not responsible for day-to-day operations of any business should be released immediately,” said the statement titled “Ficci’s stand on fire at AMRI Hospital”. The...

This is the season to count blessings. India's greatest blessings are its adherence to the democratic system of governance, an independent judiciary, a free and fearless media, and an Election Commission that inspires confidence. I hope that soon India will have an independent and effective Lokpal, which will pave the way for a corruption-free India, a pre-requisite for a hunger-free India. The other major paradigm shift observed in recent years is...

-The Economic Times In what could come in the way of the Congress' Muslim outreach, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has come down heavily against the Right to Education Act. The Muslim body has alleged that minority institutions, including Madrasas, will lose their identity on account of the Act. This is not the first time that AIMPLB has come out against the central elementary education law. Over the last...

-EPW Graft is a major issue in people’s lives, but it is unlikely to figure in voter choice in the assembly elections. A mini-general election will be upon us in February as fivestates go to the polls. Given the high-pitched outpouringson the electronic media around the anti-corruption campaign and the live coverage of the proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the Lokpal Bill, we have been led to...

The Union government has tabled two bills in the Lok Sabha in the last week of the winter session. Since one of them is the lok pal bill, it has hijacked virtually all the public attention. This is a pity for two reasons. First, there is considerable doubt whether the lok pal bill — in any form — can really be the magic solution that Team Anna would like us...