PRAGOTI

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi couldn't possibly have meant that the United Progressive Alliance government was deferring the monsoon session of Parliament since it didn't want to be 'distracted' from its resolve to remain focused on Jammu and Kashmir.

R.Ramakumar questions the sudden concern shown by Rahul Gandhi, member of parliament about the plight of people of Vidarbha and shows how the pigheaded policies of the Congress party in Maharashtra were itself responsible for the plight of the people in this region. Article written exclusively for Pragoti.

IN the backdrop of the current developments with regard to the India-US nuclear deal, Anveshan, a Delhi-based forum organised a panel discussion on "Nuclear Deal and National Interest" on July 07, 2008 at the Muktadhara Auditorium, New Delhi. The panellists were Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Professor at the School of International Studies, JNU, Achin Vanaik, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University, Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, Centre for Policy Research, B S Chimni, Professor of International Law, JNU and Prabir Purkayastha, Energy Analyst, Delhi Science Forum. Senior independent journalist and documentary filmmaker, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, moderated the discussion.

"The machinations and open or covert offers of different blandishments and incentives that have been part of the build-up to the vote of confidence are no secret. While they obviously show the cynicism and self-serving nature of many of the legislators and political parties engaging in this, they certainly cannot reflect well on the government that has so clearly chosen this route to survival and to pushing through a dubious deal." Jayati Ghosh writes on the Nuclear Deal and Bush's best friend, Manmohan Singh