-The Indian Express In the aftermath of the Central Information Commission's order holding political parties as public authorities for the disclosure of details of political funding, the turf war between members of civil society and the parties has intensified. It is commonly believed that a major source of corruption in the functioning of government can be traced back to the method of funding of parties and elections. The efforts made by...

-Dainik Bhaskar New Delhi: Normally it is considered that prominent netas of political parties have a birth right at a seat in the parliament as they are given tickets from party bastion to ensure that they win the elections. For examples when Rahul Gandhi forayed into politics, he was given ticket in Amethi which is like a Congress fortress, un-breachable by any other political unit. Some don't even have to fight...

-The Business Standard But RTI is not the tool to impose transparency on parties There is no doubt that much is wrong with how elections in India are financed. In India, as in most democratic countries, the need for political funding is often what causes cronyism and outright corruption - in fact, more than one politician, cutting across party lines, is on record making this argument. It is necessary, certainly, to introduce...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has resulted in an increase in food grain production by 42 million tonne as against the target of 20 million tonne set for the Eleventh Plan. Agriculture and Food Processing Industries minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday informed Members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry that various interventions under NFSM have resulted in the distribution of almost...

-The Hindu     Lawmakers are eager to appear resolute in the fight against crime, but seem to forget that certainty of punishment, not severity, is the real deterrent "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," said Mahatma Gandhi. The death penalty is unjust and inhuman. Its continued use is a stain on a society built on humanitarian values, and it should be abolished immediately. Many think that there could be nothing wrong...