-The Telegraph   Sharad Pawar’s hometown Baramati was shut down today by farmers demanding higher remunerative prices for sugarcane. The protest by the farmers has sent a strong political message to the ruling Congress-NCP government. Baramati is the seat of Maharashtra’s powerful and influential sugar belt that controls the state politics. Shops and establishments were closed down as hundreds of sugarcane farmers camping here for the fourth consecutive day intensified their protest and organised rasta...

For some people, life is all about a fried hollow globe with a thumb-jabbed hole in the middle. Hot, sour, sweetened or served in dahi (curd), phuchkas are a part of growing up. Unfortunately, the men who sell the phuchkas don’t know where the next jab will come from. Their thumb, or the sudden snatch of officials. Reason: there’s no law to protect them from harassment for selling their stuff on streets. But things...

-The Times of India   There seems to be no end in sight to the plight of farmers as Nafed, have not yet started procurement of the produce despite the season beginning almost a month back. CCI had earlier announced that it would enter the cotton trading but changed its stand later saying that it may begin purchases as per the open market trend. This has upset cotton growers. Lack of agreement between...

-PTI Slamming Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for asking the Centre to give green nod to the first phase of the controversial Lavasa project, Anna Hazare has accused him of violating his oath of office. Hazare and social activist Medha Patkar, who heads the 'Jan Andolan' against the Lavasa project near here, have written a letter to Chavan on November 7, taking strong objection to his comments on the issue. "It is strange...

-The Hindu   Subject to a list of conditions that activists say are not strong enough After put on hold for a year, Lavasa's controversial township project on the hills near Pune has been given the green signal subject to a list of conditions that activists say are not strong enough. Ironically, it was last week's criminal complaint filed by the Maharashtra Government against the Lavasa's promoters for violation of green norms that finally...