-The Indian Express RTI Act needs to be protected against attempts to dilute it. RTI activists must be made less vulnerable In April, the government of India proposed amendments to the RTI Act, one of the most empowering pieces of legislation inherited from the UPA era. The most controversial amendment pertained to Rule 12. It would allow the withdrawal of an application in case of the applicant’s death, making the job of...
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Policing lessons from Panchkula -Roshan Kishore
-Livemint.com State’s response to organised violence in India often hinges on a political cost-benefit analysis Days before the verdict in rape case against Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, his supporters started gathering in Panchkula. A lot of violence could have been prevented by not letting them come there. Why did the government allow this? The Dera is hardly a benign spiritual organisation. It holds significant political clout and openly declares support...
More »Meet the lady IAS officer who saved Panchkula even after police guards ran away -Viney Sharma
-The Economic Times PANCHKULA: The otherwise macho image of Haryana Police took a severe beating during the Panchkula violence, as the local custodians of town were the first to show their back, post the conviction of Sirsa Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim on Friday. Emboldening the Dera followers to have a free show, leaving the sole lady bureaucrat present amidst the arson– 2009 batch IAS officer - Panchkula Deputy Commissioner -- Gauri...
More »North Block verdict: Wilful neglect -Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
-The Telegraph New Delhi: Union home ministry sources today blamed the Haryana government's "wilful neglect" and "abject surrender to lumpen elements" for yesterday's mayhem by Dera Sacha Sauda followers. "Initial assessment reports from the ground suggest a complete administrative and police failure. There was no leadership and no instruction from the police brass to deal with the mob. The will was lacking," a senior ministry bureaucrat told The Telegraph . "It points to...
More »'PM is of India, not BJP': Haryana HC takes Centre to task over Panchkula violence -Shailee Dogra
-Hindustan Times The high court called the PM Narendra Modi-led government’s reaction to the violence “only a knee-jerk” one, dismissing the argument that the havoc occurred in different states ruled by different parties. Chandigarh: The Prime Minister is of the nation and not the BJP, the Punjab and Haryana high court remarked on Saturday as riots engulfed two states after controversial “godman” Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape. The court...
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