-The Hindu   The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday urged the Government to reconsider the present design of Below Poverty Line (BPL) census expressing apprehension that the current format would result in “undercounting” of the poor. Referring to the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat found it “objectionable” that Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh called the BPL census design “non-negotiable.'' “I find...

The $12 billion Posco investment in India was supposed to be the biggest FDI project in the country. After six years that still remains on paper Horangineun jugeumyeon gajugeul namgigo, Sarameun jugeumyun ireumeul namginda (When tigers die, they leave behind leather. When people die, they leave their names behind) —Old Korean Proverb The news flash from Press Trust of India came on July 10, 2011. Posco, the $32 billion South Korean steel giant had decided to...

-IANS   Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday said the food security bill in its current form will curtail the food security as it caters to certain sections of society. "This will not be a good food security legislation as they are trying to restrict the food security to certain sections of society. They have already given a quota - 46% of the population in rural areas...

-IANS   The opposition Thursday demanded tabling in parliament of the CAG report on irregularities in the Commonwealth Games. It also asked for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's resignation for alleged irregularities in some contracts. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met at 11 a.m., members from all opposition parties were on their feet, demanding that the government table the report soon. 'The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report on the Commonwealth Games should...

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government’s proposed land acquisition law, a politically sensitive and critical piece of legislation that could potentially remove a big roadblock to industrial investment, aims to address rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), providing safeguards for both land owners and livelihood losers, while clearly defining the “public purpose” for which land can be acquired by the government. “This draft Bill seeks to balance the need for facilitating land acquisition...