During the question hour in the Lok Sabha, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee accused the central government of withholding MGNREGA funds meant for West Bengal for the fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, claiming it was an act of discrimination against the state.
Balancing genuine efforts to combat illicit finance with the protection of civic space remains a test that international standards – and international observers – will closely watch.
The developments in Nepal illustrate a familiar tension across many democracies: the challenge of establishing effective self-regulation and accountability mechanisms without creating tools that could be used to constrain critical reporting.
Balancing genuine efforts to combat illicit finance with the protection of civic space remains a test that international standards – and international observers – will closely watch.