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Cabinet clears mega food Bill
Sonia’s ‘aam aadmi’ proposal likely to be introduced in Parliament today
New Delhi, December 18
Brushing aside fears of food scarcity and inflation, the Union Cabinet tonight cleared the much-awaited National Food Security Bill, taking the Manmohan Singh government a step closer to fulfilling the promise made to the “Aam Admi” in the Congress manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha election. The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow.

Ministers burn midnight oil to fine-tune Lokpal Bill draft
New Delhi, December 18
The government was firm tonight against bringing the investigation wing of the CBI under the Lokpal even as a group of senior ministers, including Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram, were still fine-tuning the final draft of the Bill for its introduction in Parliament in the ongoing winter session, which concludes on December 22.

SAD’s Moga rally ‘big, but not big enough’ Moga, December 18
It was expected to be the “mother of all rallies” and the “largest ever in the world” but Shiromani Akali Dal’s Maha Vikas Rally today turned out to be a classic case of being ‘big, but not big enough’. Though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal proclaimed from the stage that 6-8 lakh people were present at the rally, independent observers felt that the figure was much less. Supporters at Sunday’s Moga rally. Tribune photo: S. Chandan
Punjab page: Manpreet's key aides defect to Cong

TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE
No valour, but MP cop bags Prez medal
NHRC nails the lie after 9 years, wants honour to be taken back from officer
New Delhi, December 18
In 2004, the President awarded the prestigious police medal for gallantry to a Madhya Pradesh officer, who “displayed extraordinary courage in commanding an operation that resulted in a death of a dreaded dacoit.”

Ajit Singh sworn in, gets Aviation
New Delhi, December 18
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh today joined the Congress-led UPA-II government as Cabinet minister in-charge of the Civil Aviation portfolio. The Jat leader from Uttar Pradesh was sworn in by President Pratibha Patil at a 50-minute ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has become the Civil Aviation Minister at a time when most airlines, including state-owned Air India, are struggling for survival.

Dow to drop its logo from London Olympics; IOA not satisfied
London/New Delhi, Dec 18
Dow Chemical has agreed to remove it logo from London’s Olympic stadium but the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said that it was not satisfied with the move and wants the US giant to remove its sponsorship from the 2012 Games.

How many rivers & lakes in India? Nobody knows New Delhi, December 18 In yet another scathing indictment tabled in Parliament, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has reported that successive governments have made no effort to compile a list of water bodies in the country.