-The Hindustan Times Gujarat's tribal voters, who traditionally favour the Congress, have received a pre-poll sweetener from chief minister Narendra Modi. Barely two weeks before the model code of conduct came into effect on October 3 with the announcement of two-phase polls in December, the Modi government decided to reconsider nearly 75,000 "rejected" claims from tribals on forest land. The ruling Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) decision  is being seen as a move to...

-The Indian Express Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has proposed to “live fence” graveyards, dargahs and eidgahs under MGNREGA to protect them. In a letter to National Commission for Minorities chief Wajahat Habibullah, who had requested that boundary walls around these places be built under the employment guarantee scheme, Ramesh suggested that they “be provided with live fencing under the Land Development and Plantation works category of MGNREGA for which provisions may...

-The HIndustan Tiimes After Nandigram and Assembly polls, Mamata Banerjee once again summoned her intellectual brigade, this time to drum up a protest platform against FDI in retail and other issues, the reason for which she withdrew support from the UPA government. From singers, Tollywood actors and playwrights, pro-Mamata intellectuals showcased the protest with not only strong rhetoric but songs and recitals at Metro Channel in Esplanade. The programme under the...

-Outlook The bill providing 50 per cent reservation for women in urban local bodies in Odisha was passed by the state assembly today. Opposition Congress and BJP raised a din and did not participate in the proceedings in the passage of the bill. The house had debated the Odisha Right to Public Service Bill, 2012 last night but there was no discussion on two other bills - The Odisha Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill,...

-The Indian Express Firebrand leader who rose swiftly till downfall She rose swiftly through the ranks, having made her mark as a firebrand leader who had saffron politics as part of her legacy. Mayaben Surendrabhai Kodnani, convicted of murder, conspiracy and spreading communal hatred, is the daughter of a staunch RSS worker who had suffered the pains of Partition, moving from Tharparkar in Sind province to Deesa in Gujarat. Kodnani, the first sitting...