A day after the Supreme Court upheld the Allahabad High Court order quashing state acquisition of farm land in Shahberi, farmers of other villages that make Noida Extension announced they too would move court against acquisition of their land by the government. This is likely to put a spanner in the works of major building projects already underway in the area. At a panchayat in Bisrakh village on Thursday, residents of...

As we close in on 20 years of Manmohanomics, it's worth remembering one chant the chattering classes uttered, first with pride, later to console themselves. “Whatever you say, we have the most honest man in Dr. Manmohan Singh. And no one can speak a word against him.” It's less heard now — those affections having been transferred to other punters in the honesty sweepstakes. But growing numbers do say this...

-The Telegraph   The Mamata Banerjee government has kickstarted a process to hold talks with Maoists without mentioning conditions but acknowledged the responsibilities of governance by adding that central forces will remain until Jungle Mahal is cleansed of arms. The initiative also sought to address a fundamental issue often overlooked by the security and political establishments: the chief minister gave an assurance that the villagers will retain the right to forest resources so...

-The Times of India   Wednesday's Supreme Court decision which upheld Allahabad High Court's order quashing acquisition of land by UP government at Shahberi village in Noida has come as a shot in the arm of the farmers agitating across the state against forcible land acquisition. While Opposition parties used it to sharpen their attack on the Maya government, farmer organisations said it's a warning to the Centre and state governments...

The groundswell of public opinion is firmly against South Korean steelmaker Posco. Of the 536 farmers whose lands are to be acquired for the proposed Rs 32,000-crore integrated steel plant, 365 have said a clear 'no' . Just 25 farmers have agreed to hand over land provided they are paid a compensation of Rs 25 lakh per acre. The proposed compensation could be between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8...