-PTI   A desperate government's efforts failed today to achieve any breakthrough with Baba Ramdev deciding to go ahead with his indefinite fast here from tomorrow amidst indications that a compromise was likely in a day or two. For nearly five hours, two senior union ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay negotiated with the yoga guru over his demands on eradication of corruption at a posh hotel, a venue totally different...

No one’s buying the government’s desperate arguments to keep the prime minister above Lokpal scrutiny Points Of Friction   Government and civil society representatives have sparred on the question of including the prime minister in the proposed Lokpal Bill on seven key grounds: Point: The Prime Minister is accountable only to Parliament, and to the people of India Counterpoint: Does this mean a PM can never face action for criminal liability, however serious the charge,...

-The Times of India   The ministry of petroleum and natural gas on Saturday said that kerosene allocation to Gujarat has been reduced, keeping in view the substantial LPG penetration in the state. Gujarat's monthly quota of kerosene for distribution under the public distribution system (PDS) has been slashed by 32.19% from 76,712 kilolitres (KL) in 2010-11 to 52,020 KL in 2011-12, effective from June 1. The state government had raised...

-The Telegraph   Mamata Banerjee today provided a sneak preview of her land acquisition policy while announcing plans to build embankments in areas hit by Cyclone Aila in May 2009. She said her government would need to acquire 6,000 acres in the affected parts of the Sunderbans but stressed there would be no forcible acquisition, that market rates would be paid, and that each land-losing family would get a government job. Even before...

The Union government will set up an independent financial institution to give funds for effective functioning of the self-help groups (SHGs) and better empowerment of the rural poor. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced this while launching the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), which will be funded through financial institutions. As of now, banks will be mobilised to extend loans to the tune of Rs. 6,800 crore this year at subsidised rates...