Anna sounds poll bugle; Determined to campaign against Govt before Lok Sabha polls

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The devastating fire at the AMRI hospital in Kolkata that left 91 people dead is intensely scrutinised in all the dailies. "AMRI thumbed nose at warnings, bent norms in all its basements", reports the Indian Express. The Tribune reveals that two weeks ago the Supreme Court had held the hospital liable for causing the death of a child psychologist and directed it to pay Rs 1.55 crores as compensation. Highlighting the heroic efforts put in by the residents of a nearby slum to save people, the Hindustan Times says "Kolakata's heroes are slumdog brave hearts".

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare's response to the Standing Committee's report on the Lokpal which was presented in Parliament on Friday is widely noticed. "Anna fumes over weak Lokpal, plans fast today", reports the Asian Age. The Pioneer writes "Anna sounds poll bugle; Determined to campaign against Govt before Lok Sabha polls".

The Statesman, the Asian Age and the Hindu report that the Congress has decided to disqualify 16 party MLAs in Andhra Pradesh who defied the party whip and cross voted against the Kiran Reddy government in the no-confidence motion in the State Assembly on Tuesday last.

The decision by the Oxford University Press (OUP) to start reprinting an essay on the Ramayan by noted scholar A K Ramanujan which it had stopped in 2008 is prominently noticed in the papers today. Highlighting that this move comes in the wake of widespread protests by scholars and the larger academic community, the Times of India says "Shamed, OUP to reprint Ramanujan". Similarly, the Indian Express reports "Oxford press to continue printing Ramayana essay".

In international news, protests in Russia against disputed parliamentary polls are prominently noticed in the press. "Protests against vote fraud begin in Russia, 45 arrested", writes the Hindustan Times.