Abandoning the Right to Food

EPW has a important article by (co-authored by Harsh Mander, a member of the National Advisory Council) on the "Abandoning the Right to Food" by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

Just one quote:

According to media reports, the government plans to pass the National Food Security Bill in the coming budget session of Parliament after incorporating most of the recommendations of the standing committee. If this is allowed to happen, India will lose a historic opportunity to end hunger and malnutrition in the country. If a state like Chhattisgarh can legislate a comprehensive Food Security Act, there is no reason why the central government – which has far greater resources at its disposal – cannot do the same for the entire country.

The Seema Azad and the Vishwa Vijay case

On the 8th of June 2012 a court in Allahabad, pronounced life imprisonment to 36 year old Seema Azad, writer and editor of Dastak (a monthly magazine) and the Organising Secretary of the PUCL for alleged Maoist support (a la Binayak Sen). A critique on the PUCL website.

Here is a old media report on the case.
 
From The Hoot:
"The duo [she and her husband] were arrested shortly after Seema wrote against Ganga Expressway Plan, a project that would have displaced many farmers and also highlighted arbitrary arrests of Muslim youth by the Special Task Force in Azamgarh."

Allan Nairn on Guatemala

The courageous Allan Nairn calling for Elliot Abrams to be tried for crimes against humanity.