Prem, a 68 year-old woman has been given a sentence of seven years in jail for killing her daughter-in-law for dowry, in collusion with her two sons who were also given the same prison sentence. The victim's husband Raj Kumar was also convicted for dowry death and subjecting his wife to cruelty for dowry.
The victim Anita was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom at their home. She was married for three years.
The family demanded a Maruti car, a motor cycle, a buffalo and cash barely six months after the marriage, and Anita was consequently harassed and treated cruelly.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs.50,000 on each of the accused, that will be given to Anita's parents as compensation.
Santosh Hegde who was a member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee said the government cannot afford to ignore popular sentiment in their support of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign or it will pay a 'heavy price'
Hegde the former Supreme Court judge, who till recently served as Karnataka Lokayukta, recalled the example of the 1977 Emergency, saying a government in power may lose that power if the people are ignored.
CM Mamata Banerjee chose the new name for West Bengal. It was unanimously agreed that the new name will be Paschimbanga.
Banerjee had empowered Partha Chatterjee, parliamentary affairs minister, and Leader of the Opposition Surjyakanta Mishra to study a new name for the state.
TSR Subramanian, Former Cabinet Secretary: The Lokpal is not a single-point solution. We need strong local level systems that work under the supervision of the state Lokayukta and ensure faster decisions, simultaneously having a system to eliminate political interference at every level.
Harish Salve, Senior Counsel: India needs electoral reforms to eliminate the corrupt and criminals. De-link PSUs from ministries and run them by professionals. Downsize government and pay realistic salaries.
Ram Jethmalani, MP Rajya Sabha: The Prime Minister must be directly elected by the people and be accountable for corruption in his council of ministers. Purify the judiciary and eliminate advocates with political leanings becoming judges. Improve the character and efficiency of investigating.
Prakash Singh, Former DG, UP police and BSF: Depoliticise and rejuvenate state police anti-corruption and vigilance departments. Reinvent the CBI and free it from governmental control. Audit the government's funding and social funding in a transparent manner.
Venu Srinivasan, Managing Director, TVS: Ensure fair, open and transparent awarding of contracts for infrastructure projects or mining or land acquisition for industry. Rethink liberalisation, cut back over-regulation. Proper enforcement of laws is a must.
Rahul Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto, MP, Rajya Sabha: Enact a strong Lokpal Bill but not as that demanded by the civil society through the Jan Lokpal bill. Electoral reforms should include holding elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies every five years with no mid-term polls.
Bimal Jalan, Former RBI Governor: Reduce economic incentives for politics. Restore the pre-2003 procedure of elections to the Rajya Sabha.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson, Congress: A methodical deletion of discretionary powers at all levels. Punitive and deterrent action against the corrupt in a time-bound manner. Fix market value of land and scrutinise dealings below it.
Anna Hazare launched his police permitted protest 14 day fast at the Ramlila Maidan, indicating he will not quit the venue till his Lokpal Bill is passed.
The 73 year old Gandhian is said to have lost weight since he started his fast fivedays ago but is fine. He addressed his supporters briefly at Ramlila, saying yet again, India's second freedom struggle has begun and asked his followers to continue to carry the torch of the struggle whether or not he survives.
