-The Hindustan Times Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, who recently took a dig at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks that the UPA government is "brain-dead", showered lavish praises on the chief minister on Thursday even describing her as a role model of political mobilisation in Maoist-affected areas. "I wish other chief ministers follow Banerjee's political approach for Maoist-affected areas. She has transformed the Jangalmahal area of her...

-The Indian Express ‘Will write to Environment ministry’ A day after the Supreme Court expressed concern over the smog cover over the city saying it will “deal with the matter”, the Delhi government on Wednesday absolved itself of any blame and pointed a finger at the neighbouring states. The Environment department said it has commissioned a study under IIT-Kanpur to identify the exact role of various pollutants and suggest measures to improve air...

-The Times of India The Delhi government on Wednesday approved the proposal to supply three additional subsidized LPG cylinders annually to about 3.56 lakh poor families under the kerosene-free Delhi scheme. The Centre had decided in September that each household will get six cylinders of 14.2kg per annum at subsidized rates, and any purchase beyond that would be at the market rate. The market rate of an LPG cylinder is Rs 895.5,...

-The Times of India Congress will hold a massive rally on Sunday to defend its decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, in what will showcase government's new assertiveness on reforms and the backing extended by the Congress brass in the face of populist criticism that giant retailers will harm farmers' interests and pop and mom stores. The party has, especially its units in Delhi and neighbouring Haryana, have pulled out all...

-The Indian Express Fifteen-year-old Altaf Hussain crouches effortlessly and heads into what looks like a black hole. Dragging a large wooden cart behind him, he disappears into the gaping darkness within seconds. After what seems like an endless wait but lasts just half an hour, he emerges from the hole with a cart laden with dark, glittering coal. The head of this group of 30 is Abu Kalam Mia. The 27-year-old ‘sardar’,...