Hazare is now fighting possibly the biggest battle of his life, by launching an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi to press for an early enactment of a Lokpal Bill, legislation that would create public ombudsmen to investigate corruption charges against public servants Anna Hazare is a veteran of many battles—as a former soldier and then as a social activist who has forced at least half a dozen Maharashtra ministers to...

Under Attack from social activist Anna Hazare, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday quit the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Lokpal bill. "Sharad Pawar has given resignation from the committee. He should give his resignation from the Ministry also. It does not affect us," said Hazare. Pawar had earlier in the day said he would be happy to be relieved from all ministerial panels, including that on corruption. "I will be happy if...

Vishnu Medhkar (34) has filed a police complaint alleging that he was beaten up after seeking information about a Turbhe-based stone quarry workers' association under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. A resident of Turbhe, Vishnu claimed that he was thrashed on Saturday evening by three family members of a local Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator, Amit Medhkar. "Between 6.45 pm and 7 pm, I was assaulted by Amit's father...

The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act was passed in August 2009 — a momentous decision, if decades too late. Since last April, when it started functioning, the state has been required, by law, to provide a neighbourhood school that meets a minimum standard within three years. The act mandates a whole range of measures to upgrade the number and quality of schools, like specified teacher-student ratios, making sure...

The big newspapers are Indian, as much as they are ethnic or regional in character. Their choice of news reflects the upward mobility of middle class India. This report is based on a recently concluded survey of what newspapers covered over a two month period in late 2010. Our study took ten newspapers in five states: Hindustan Times (Delhi), Dainik Jagran (Delhi), Telegraph, Ananda Bazar Patrika, Deccan Chronicle, Dinathanti, the Hindu...