This is the season to count blessings. India's greatest blessings are its adherence to the democratic system of governance, an independent judiciary, a free and fearless media, and an Election Commission that inspires confidence. I hope that soon India will have an independent and effective Lokpal, which will pave the way for a corruption-free India, a pre-requisite for a hunger-free India. The other major paradigm shift observed in recent years is...
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A Real Priority by Bhaskar Dutta
The Union government has tabled two bills in the Lok Sabha in the last week of the winter session. Since one of them is the lok pal bill, it has hijacked virtually all the public attention. This is a pity for two reasons. First, there is considerable doubt whether the lok pal bill — in any form — can really be the magic solution that Team Anna would like us...
More »Lokpal Bill will remain alive till end of current Lok Sabha term
-The Hindu Rajya Sabha can vote on the proposed law it if is brought in the Budget session With the government asserting its intention to take up the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 for passage during the Budget session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha would have the opportunity to vote on the proposed legislation. As per procedure, the government can bring forward the Bill before the House by mentioning it in the List...
More »Anna poll plan raises questions of ethics: CEC
-PTI Asserting that Team Anna’s proposal to campaign against the Congress in the Assembly elections in five states raised questions of “propriety and ethics”, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Sunday said anything that came in the way of free and fair elections was not acceptable. “We don’t have any problem because in a democracy they have a right to oppose or support anybody. It should not be in violation of...
More »Too little, too late by Harsh Mander
If we get it right, the Food Security Bill carries the potential to alter the destinies of millions of India's poor and disadvantaged people, by assuring them as a legal right sufficient food to live with dignity. It was approved by the Cabinet after over two years of intense, sometimes fractious debate. Opinion in the Cabinet itself was reportedly divided around the proposed law. Gaping divisions persist, even as the...
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