-The Economic Times The information commissioner's order asking that stringent disclosure norms prevail on Political Parties is a welcome move. Transparency with regard to Political Parties, especially when it concerns funding, is extremely important in a democracy as this is where political corruption begins. In the past, there have been allegations of quid pro quo between big corporate houses, who fund parties in elections, and policy changes effected to suit them. Some...

-The Business Standard But RTI is not the tool to impose transparency on parties There is no doubt that much is wrong with how elections in India are financed. In India, as in most democratic countries, the need for political funding is often what causes cronyism and outright corruption - in fact, more than one politician, cutting across party lines, is on record making this argument. It is necessary, certainly, to introduce...

-The Hindu     The promise of near-universal coverage is now nowhere in sight. And the UPA's seemingly fretful efforts to get the measure through do not appear to be convincing The nation is watching with trepidation the play of politics over the National Food Security Bill, which envisages food security for 67 per cent of the population by providing 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals per person per month at subsidised...

-The Indian Express Bringing Political Parties under RTI is a bad, and anti-political, idea In a radical ruling, the chief information commissioner has decided that Political Parties should be open to scrutiny under the right to information. Six national parties have been asked to appoint officers to handle requests, and proactively share information about their finances and voluntary contributions, including donor information. The logic is that parties get public land and offices,...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: An ordinance to implement the Food Security Act was held back from being placed before the Cabinet on Tuesday as the government deliberated if it should press ahead or still explore other options like a special session of Parliament. The government had veered around to adopting the ordinance route and the proposal was sent to the cabinet secretariat after law minister Kapil Sibal made a few...