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Rich MPs, poor people
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Published on :
Sunday, August 22, 2010 |
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A 300 percent salary hike for Members of parliament was cleared, and their perks were doubled. But, The MP's are dissatisfied as they sought Rs 80,001 salary per month as recommended by a parliamentary committee. Politics is all about money in India.The average worth of assets of an MP in the Lower House has increased from Rs 1.86 crore to Rs 5.33 crore in the last five years, reports Zee News. |
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We're All (Still) Socialists in India
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Published on :
Monday, July 26, 2010 |
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Though Indian politicians talk a lot about reform, they are good at spending tax payers money, mostly because they are socialists. Every political party in India should swear allegiance to socialism, according to the 42nd amendment to constitution.There are around 50 parties represented in the parliament, but people of India do not have much of a choice as there is no liberal political party. The petition filed by Sanjiv Agarwal is a case in point. The petition was withdrawn on the grounds that no political part has opposed the insertion of the word 'Socialism".Political parties should take up this cause, writes Barun Mitra in The wall Street Journal. |
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Supreme Injustice!
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Published on :
Friday, July 23, 2010 |
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The judges of the Indian Supreme court felt that the insertion of socialism in the constitution, though important is only an academic issue,and the petition challenging it, should be withdrawn. Only socialist parties can be registered with India's Election Commission.The Swatantra party of S V Raju failed to swear by Socialism they had no option but to take the issue to the court, writes Manuwant Choudhary in Indiavikalp. |
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67 Bihar opposition MLAs suspended, slipper flung at speaker
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Published on :
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 |
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67 MLA's in Bihar were suspended for unruly behaviour. Even a slipper was flung at the speaker. A woman member, Jyoti Kumari threw flower pots around.Several RJD MLA's were marshalled out of the Assembly, reports DNA. |
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We, of the Preamble
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Published on :
Monday, July 19, 2010 |
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No one objects to socialism if it is about equity concerns. But, it makes sense to oppose it if it means public ownership of means of production. State and the public are not synonymous. Amending the constitution makes sense in certain circumstances, but not always. The insertion of the word Socialist is not an academic question. Sharad Joshi refused to register his political party as of the clause, writes Bibek Debroy in The Indian Express. |
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End to Regression
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Published on :
Monday, July 19, 2010 |
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`India is experiencing a sudden mushrooming of self-styled keepers of public morality and traditions. They usually target the weaker sections of the society.The Government ignores such atrocities and anti-democratic procedures. Semu Bhatt writes on the atrocious diktats of traditional torch bearers – Khap Panchayats – in the latest issue of SouthAsia Magazine. |
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Bandhs:acts of terror by another name
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Published on :
Sunday, July 11, 2010 |
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Bandhs are an act of terror by another name.It is an assault on democracy. Aren't there peaceful ways of protesting? Don't people have right to peacefully withdraw from the strike? Politicians can't claim ignorance of the fact that most strikes turn violent.Why not present the arguments and facts against fuel price decontrol in the parliament?, writes K Subrahmanyam in Business Standard. |
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India Goes Backward on Caste
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Published on :
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 |
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Caste has cast its shadow once again over Indian politics. Over the past few weeks, parliament has witnessed uproarious scenes on whether to include caste in the once-a-decade census that has just gotten underway. Opinion is split among political leaders, social activists and the public. But far from being ultimately divisive, this debate is a perfect demonstration of how India's vibrant democracy and growing economy is making caste less and less important, writes Barun MItra in The Wall Street Journal.
democracy and growing economy is making caste less and less important. |
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India's Government By Quota
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Published on :
Friday, April 30, 2010 |
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India's lesson is that abrogating individual rights through group preferences or quotas institutionalizes the very divisions that these policies are supposed to erase. Human prejudice can't be legislated away. That requires social activism to coax, cajole and shame people out of their intolerance. There are no short cuts, writes Shikha Dalmia in The Wall Street Journal. |
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Peace,Not Partition
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Published on :
Friday, April 23, 2010 |
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The core issue for Pakistan is Kashmir.But the core issue for India is not just terrorism but protecting our pluralist democracy.Kashmir is not mere territory to be kept under Indian
jurisdiction at all costs, writes Madhu Kishwar in The Times Of India. |
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