-The Hindu The government’s claim that it will dampen inflation, bring higher prices for farmers and lower prices for customers may be somewhat exaggerated With the intention of signalling a strong commitment to reforms, the UPA government has announced a hike in the price of diesel and liberalisation of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, justifying the measures as growth-enhancing and inflation-dampening. They have been termed bold by India’s corporate sector...

-PTI Pawar resigned after reports alleged his involvement in Rs 20,000 crore irrigation Scam Maharashtra Governor K Sankarnarayanan today accepted the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who quit following reports about his alleged involvement in a Rs 20,000 crore irrigation Scam. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan met the Governor this morning and handed over Pawar's resignation. "The Governor has accepted Ajit Pawar's resignation as recommended by the Chief Minister," a Raj...

-The Times of India The government on Thursday seized upon Supreme Court's ruling that auctions are not mandatory for allocating natural resources as a validation of its stand against the comptroller and auditor general's (CAG) findings in the 2G spectrum and Coalgate cases. Talking to media after the verdict, telecom minister Kapil Sibal and law minister Salman Khurshid welcomed the judgment, suggesting it had vindicated the government's position. Sibal said all constitutional authorities...

-The Times of India The Supreme Court, while answering the presidential reference on the 2G judgment, took note of the coalgate Scam that stalled Parliament and said whatever be the mode of allocation of natural resources, it can never be a handout for private players. Justice JS Khehar agreed with the majority opinion of the constitution bench on the reference that auction could not be termed as the only constitutionally permissible mode...

-The Hindustan Times BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday sent a legal notice to India Against Corruption (IAC) activist  Anjali Damania, for alleging he had tried to cover up the irrigation Scam in Maharashtra when she approached him. Gadkari has demanded an apology from her. The IAC, however, defended Daminia with Arvind Kejriwal posing four questions to Gadkari over his alleged proximity to NCP chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. In his...