The Indian Women’s Press Corps is the country’s is the country's most prominent women's media organisation where women journalists celebrate the past and shape the future. Located in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, the IWPC which, by the way, also houses the Capital’s only known (male) date palm from the Canary Islands, offers various activities for women journalists to make a professional impact. Its nearly 600-strong membership comprises the most talented and influential journalists working in print, broadcasting and the New Media. This where the mighty and the meek break barriers and bread, learn and laugh, as they strive for equality and excellence.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in an address to party members over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in Parliament on Indo-Pak joint statement, has said that the party welcomes the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. However, she added that the resumption of dialogue with the neighbouring country depends on action against terror. "Action by Pakistan against 26/11 perpetrators is must for resumption of talks," said Sonia. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in Parliament, defending his Pakistan policy in the strongest terms, set the tone for Sonia's address to her party MPs on Thursday morning. Sources had said that Sonia would throw her weight behind the Prime Minister, hoping to silence the critics within the party. There was disquiet in sections in the Congress on the joint statement, and it's still not clear how the PM's statement in Parliament went down with the party. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has welcomed the sentiments for peace expressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Parliament address. He said the Indian Prime Minister has rightly emphasized the importance of honourable settlement of the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan. Gilani commended Singh for his 'bold vision of peace and prosperity in South Asia' and the 'statesmanship that he has demonstrated'. Earlier in Parliament, making it clear that his government's stand is firm on terrorism, the Prime Minister said that his government has a zero-tolerance policy against terror. Reiterating his government's stand that talks between India and Pakistan cannot proceed if terrorists target our country, the Prime Minister said, "There cannot be any normalisation of ties unless Pakistan acts against terror." He also defended the government's move on resuming talks with Pakistan, saying, "There is no other way of moving forward unless you want war." Clarifying government's stand on the Indo-Pak joint statement, the Prime Minister said it does not say talks with Pakistan despite terror attacks. He maintained that it is impossible to go forward with talks till Pakistan stops terror.

Ahmedabad: A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 31, 2008 lays bare several irregularities in Gujarat government departments. Deficient management, delays in completing projects, losses by short recovering of liquidated damages and other problems have been highlighted in the report. The CAG report finds: Irregularities in planning and execution of the controversial Sujalam Sufalam project GSPC suffered a loss of Rs 106.71 crore by short recovering liquidated damages from contractor Essar Oil Limited Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam spent Rs 9.92 crore for availing consultancy services which remained unfruitful GSEC passed undue benefit of Rs 37.27 crore to contractors because of improper fixation of monthly average coal per wagon "We have made our transaction audit observations and also put on record the irregularities and losses wherever. There is time overlap in some cases, excess payments in some cases,” says Principal Accountant General, Gujarat Region, Nandini Kapdi. The state government is not responding yet but the Congress alleges large-scale corruption is the reason why the Narendra Modi government is not appointing a Lok Ayukta. "There are so many irregularities. But Modi wants to shield himself and his ministers, so he is not appointing a Lok Ayukta for the past six years,” says Spokesperson, Congress, Arjun Modhvadia.