-The Business Standard   The Supreme Court today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in six districts of Orissa. The apex court has directed the Central investigative agency to submit its report within six months. The CBI has been asked to check if the operational guidelines of the Central scheme were duly complied...

The Opposition BJP on Tuesday held Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the NREGS scam in Orissa, which would now be investigated by the CBI following a direction by the Supreme Court. “The Chief Minister is the head of the state council which monitors and supervises execution of work under MGNREGA. So he cannot escape responsibilities. What is really shameful is that the Supreme Court singled out Orissa for the CBI...

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) activists staged a protest here on Wednesday to vent their dissent at the Central Government over the poor implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Scores of persons took part in the demonstration, which was led by LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan and the head of the party’s Punjab state unit Jay Singh. Jay Singh said that they have sought from the Central Government...

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has taken cognizance of the killing of MGNREGA activist Niyamat Ansari in Latehar district and requested authorities in India to probe his death as also the death threats issued to rights activist Bhukhan Singh. The UNHCR urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union home minister P Chidambaram, Chief Justice S H Kapadia and chairman of the special investigation team, Supreme Court of India, R...

Opposition parties on Wednesday asked Orissa government to hand over the investigation into the rural job scam under MGNREGA to CBI before the Supreme Court issues a direction to that effect as the Panchayati Raj Minister admitted diversion of funds in the scheme. "As the corruption is totally exposed, it is better to hand over the probe to CBI before the Supreme Court issues an order to that effect," Leader...