It’s a two-storey palatial structure of deep pink sandstone, with granite floors and a massive dome. It’s coming up at 9 Mall Avenue in Lucknow — outgoing chief minister Mayawati’s latest acquisition of prime real estate in the city. It is fenced by high pink sandstone walls, with four watch towers manned by security personnel at the corners. Barricades on the road in front kept out the curious crowds who went...

-The Telegraph Bengal’s co-operation department spent the better part of Tuesday on an unusual mission: how to enforce Mamata Banerjee’s very chief ministerial order to nail those who tried to recover money lent by a co-operative bank. “I have asked to lodge an FIR,” Mamata had declared yesterday while ordering the withdrawal of attachment notices on two farmers and announcing that the law will be changed to make government approval mandatory before...

-PTI Government today told Parliament that prosecution agencies will have to obtain authorisation from it before attachment of properties of corrupt retired public servants. "An official memorandum dated May 13, 2009 was issued laying down procedure for obtaining authorisation of the central government under section 3 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1944 for attachment of the money or property procured by corrupt means. "Further, clarifications were issued vide office memorandum dated January...

-PTI With agriculture share in GDP halving to 15 per cent in the last two decades, a government report card today called for major reforms, from marketing to investment, and new technologies for accelerating farm growth.  The report on 'State of Indian Agriculture 2011-12', tabled in the Lok Sabha said, "Achieving an 8-9 per cent rate of growth in overall gross domestic produce (GDP) may not deliver much in terms of poverty...

-The Indian Express   Increasing farm production and removing market imperfections would help in controlling prices of commodities, a report has said. The report on 'State of Indian Agriculture 2011-12', tabled in the Lok Sabha, said that the principal factors behind the higher levels of inflation in the recent period are constraints in production and distribution especially in high value items such as pulses, fruits and vegetables, egg and meat. Increase in prices can...