The six interlocutors appointed by the West Bengal government more than four months ago to explore the possibility of talks with the Maoists informed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday of their decision to pull out of the exercise. “We have expressed our desire to be relieved of the responsibilities assigned to us by the State government,” a key interlocutor told The Hindu here. The decision conveyed in a letter comes on...
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Health Minister's removal sought over malaria deaths by Mahim Pratap Singh
With the malaria situation in Madhya Pradesh reaching a critical level as the death toll increasing consistently every day, the BJP government has been slammed by the Opposition parties for its alleged failure to contain the epidemic-like situation and they have demanded removal of State Health Minister Narottam Mishra. Mr. Mishra had incidentally told media persons last week that he was not fully aware of the situation. While the exact state-wide death...
More »Jairam seeks to modify flagship schemes for Maoist-hit districts by Aman Sethi
Warning that delays in wage payments were crippling the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-affected districts, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh outlined his Ministry's latest attempts to jumpstart development in these areas. In the past, Mr. Ramesh has spoken of prioritising development in the country's 60 ‘Left Wing Extremism' [LWE] districts as a crucial prong in his government's battle against the guerilla army of...
More »What Is The Real Goal Of The Anna Movement? by Rohini Hensman
Many people including members of Team Anna have expressed reservations about the way in which their campaign has been developing, and some have even resigned. This raises questions about the real aim of the leadership around Anna. Is it really what it is proclaimed to be? Is the aim to get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by parliament? Team Anna has repeatedly stated that they have just a one-point agenda: to get...
More »CPI(M) leader moves Supreme Court against conviction for contempt
-The Hindu I didn't mean to denigrate judiciary, says Jayarajan Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M.V. Jayarajan, who was found guilty of criminal contempt by the Kerala High Court for criticising the judiciary and sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.2,000, on Saturday challenged the November 8 judgment in the Supreme Court. In his appeal, filed by advocate P.V. Dinesh, Mr. Jayarajan maintained that he never meant to...
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