-NDTV As Parliament continues to be disrupted by Opposition protests against the government over a slew of issues- mainly coal-gate and the JPC report on the 2G scam -- the ruling UPA is considering moving an ordinance for two of its key bills on land acquisition and food security. The government introduced amendments to the Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha yesterday, but could not get it passed as...

-Live Mint Why do the central and state govts deliberately undermine the constitutionally created panchayats? The collector of any district in India would be heading 100 to 150 committees related to various development initiatives in the area. Collectors often don't get time to prepare for or preside over the meetings of these committees-imagine what happens to implementation then. On the other hand, the heads of district panchayats and municipalities in the...

-Deccan Herald In an attempt to send a strong message that it is serious in legislative business, the government on Thursday introduced amendments to the landmark Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha, amid disruptions of proceedings by the Opposition over the killing of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan and other issues. Food Minister K V Thomas moved amendments to the National Food Security Bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in December...

-The Times of India The prospects of the joint Parliamentary committee (JPC) draft report on the 2G scam being adopted dimmed further, with 15 Opposition MPs on the panel "rejecting" the report that gives Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a clean chit. The same set of MPs, who wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar expressing lack of confidence in JPC chairperson P C Chacko, submitted letters to the committee secretariat, choosing...

-The Economic Times My target for fulfilling Rajiv's vision has always been 2018. We can get there in less than 5 years if govt acts on our recommendations, says diplomat-turned-politician Mani Shankar Aiyar. You have been passionately talking about Panchayati Raj. But your party doesn't seem to share the same passion lately... Mani Shankar Aiyar: I don't agree with you here. The commitment of the party to Panchayati Raj and devolution of...