Team Anna has deviated from goal of fighting corruption Waterman Rajendra Singh has accused Team Anna of straying from its goal of fighting corruption and turning into a “bunch of power brokers.” The success with the public during the Delhi fast of social activist Anna Hazare made them give up all pretensions to democratic functioning while at collective action, he charged. Mr. Singh, along with another social activist P.V. Rajagopal, recently quit...

-The Indian Express   When it burst into public consciousness earlier this year, the India Against Corruption movement appeared to be led by a team that instinctively understood each other, despite their differences. They came from a similar gene pool and had benefited from largely similar opportunities, they felt the same frustration with aspects of the state, they shared a common vocabulary, and the same burning priorities. They were united in their...

Economic status, education, access to clean water and sanitation, nutrition and the environment determine the level of health of persons, communities or countries, and so does the extent to which rights are enjoyed or denied. The World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, held Oct. 19-21 in Brazil, defined 15 commitments that should be undertaken by governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society.  The final document, the Rio Political Declaration...

The Indian media display certain defects. These should ideally be addressed and corrected in a democratic manner. But if the media prove incorrigible, harsh measures may be called for. The time has come when some introspection by the Indian media is required. Many people, not only those in authority but even ordinary people, have started saying that the media have become irresponsible and wayward, and need to be reined in. Only a...

-The Telegraph   Mamata Banerjee today talked of “good” and “bad” Maoists, the differentiation said to be part of a strategy to drive a wedge in the rebel camp. “Not all Maoists are bad. Some are doing good work. One section, however, does not believe in Democracy. They indulge in violence and bloodbath,” she told journalists on the sidelines of the National Development Council meeting at Vigyan Bhavan. Mamata’s differentiation came on the day...