Will India finally get its Lokpal?

It seems that the Lokpal Bill will finally go through.

So much time has passed since the fast of Anna Hazare and since the Prime Minister had sent a letter of promise assuring that Parliament would pass the Lokpal Bill at the earliest. In fact, so much time has passed that many of us had started feeling the government had fooled Anna. I am sure, Anna too must have felt the same way otherwise would he have to go on fast again.

After the severe bashing received in the recently concluded state elections, I think the Congress party must have realized that it cannot ignore Anna Hazare and his fasting anymore. Whatever be the reason, the fact remains that the Bill is out of the refrigerator and has been taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Surprisingly, Congress supremo Rahul Gandhi has displayed a positive stance on the Lokpal Bill.

The party's young leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken in its favor and requested the other parties to ensure that the Bill is passed. The latest development is that even Anna Hazare has said that he accepts the provisions of amended Lokpal that has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha for discussion.

In the current scenario, even BJP cannot afford to ignore the Bill anymore.

So, it seems that the Lokpal Bill will finally go through.

Focus back on UPA Governemnt after WalMart declaration

Even as things seemed to be improving for the ruling UPA government, WalMart's statement in the US has once again put the UPA government in a corner.

WalMart - the company is clearly seen to be the biggest beneficiary of the recent FDI decision of the Congress led UPA Goverment. WalMart has gone and said before the US Senate that it has spent around Rs. 700 crores in lobbying for the opening of the retail sector in Indian.

This has given the opposition in particular and Indian public in general an opportunity to once again raise eyebrows.

The UPA government has faced a lot of criticism over the last few months over the way it has handled its political allies and the way it has been on the back foot on the issue of corruption. Last month the government suddenly showed some bone and announced a couple of decisions which were believed to be unpopular with most political parties and the win in both the houses of the Parliament must have been a big morale booster for the Congress led UPA government.

But, now let us see how the statement by WalMart - the biggest apparent winner of the FDI decision - impacts the Indian government.