CHANDRAWAL, India—Satbir Sharma's wife is dead. His family lives in fear. His father's left leg is shattered, leaving him on crutches for life. Sharma's only hope lies in a new law that gives him the right to know what is happening in the investigation of his wife's death. Most of all, he wants to know what will happen to the village mayor, now in jail on murder charges. He talks quietly, under...
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'Draft Mining Bill will harm mining companies' by S Thiagarajan
Two months ago, Cabinet approved a draft law that seeks to create a better legislative environment to attract investments in mining and ease land acquisition through higher compensation to people displaced by projects. This show of goodwill could help the government win some hearts in troubled landscapes of Orissa and Karnataka. But mining companies are not entirely convinced as they have to pay higher royalties and want changes to be made...
More »No scope for change in liability regime, India will tell Obama by B Muralidhar Reddy
On the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's scheduled meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Bali, Indian officials said they did not know whether the newly notified rules for implementing the Nuclear Liability Act would address American concerns about nuclear suppliers being exposed to claims for damages in the event of an accident but insisted that the “law of the land” could...
More »NAC rules for Montek on poverty plans by Radhika Ramaseshan
The Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council has listed dos and don’ts for Montek Singh Ahluwalia on the special component plan that forms a part of the five-year plan devised by the Planning Commission. The council has focused on the Dalits in the special plan that has two sub-plans: one for Dalits and the other for tribals. The council’s working group on Dalit issues — Harsh Mander and Farah Naqvi are in the...
More »Lokpal Movement: Unanswered Questions by Gautam Navlakha
Why is it that the Anna Hazare-led movement against corruption does not seek to have the Lokpal cover NGOs, corporate houses and the corporate media? Gautam Navlakha (gnavlakha@gmail.com) is a member of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi. It would be churlish to dismiss “Team Anna’s” mass mobilisation which is an assertion of our collective right to protest. This is especially so in view of the fact that after having waited...
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