CPI(M) Campaign Evokes Good Response

AT the call of the Central Committee of the CPI(M), a week-long campaign from August 20-26, followed by protests, was held throughout the country on 16-point demand charter. Below we publish reports from the states:

CPI(M) to Take Election Campaign to Grassroots in Bihar

THE state committee of CPI(M), Bihar met online on August 7. The meeting was addressed by Polit Bureau member Hannan Mollah. He highlighted the main developments in the international and national arena and underlined the superiority of socialist system which has come to the fore during the coronavirus pandemic. The systemic crisis of capitalism cannot be resolved without embarking on the path of socialism, he said.

AP: Survey of Unorganised Labour in Eluru Town

AS many as 51,500 workers from 23 sectors have lost income in the last four months, only in the town of Eluru of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, since the imposition of Covid-19 lockdown. According to the urban survey conducted by the CPI(M) in the town, it is estimated that an additional 20,000 weavers, fishermen, tailors, artisans and self employed people have also lost their livelihoods during the pandemic making it tougher to keep their heads above water with each passing day.

TELANGANA: CPI(M) Demands Compensation, Houses to Flood-Hit Farmers

TELANGANA committee of CPI(M) leaders toured in the flood-hit districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mahabubnagar to study the crop losses caused by recent heavy rains.

Surprising and Disappointing Ruling on Hate Speech Case

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Brinda Karat issued a statement on August 27, on the dismissal of the hate speech case against Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma, by the magistrate court. She termed the ruling as surprising and disappointing. She said, “We had filed a complaint with Delhi police in January against the hate speeches made by BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma and asked for filing of a FIR under relevant provisions including Sec 153 of the IPC.

Paltry Increase in Sugarcane Prices

THE Narendra Modi led BJP government has announced the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the season 2020-21 as Rs 2850 per tonne for a recovery rate of 10 per cent. The government which did not make any increase in the sugarcane price last year has now declared only Rs 100 increase per tonne. This increase is pittance when compared to the huge increase in input costs and overall costs of cultivation.

Disturbing Trends in Supreme Court

THE conviction of senior lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, of criminal contempt of court by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court has lowered the image of the institution. It shows the highest court of the land in a bad light as being intolerant of criticism and using the contempt law to punish dissent.

J & K: A Year after 370, Belie the Euphoric Pronouncements

THE euphoric reverberations sounded by the BJP and its cohorts immediately after the shredding of Article 370 of the Constitution of India did not last long. August 5, 2020 will mark one year of the dismantling of the state into two union territories, Ladhak and Jammu & Kashmir. Jubilation was in the BJP’s camp and its leaders explicitly made statements that next is the turn of POK(Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Aksai Chin to be fully integrated with India; to them Article 370 was a hurdle in the integration of J & K to Indian State.

TELANGANA: Left Parties Pledge to Protect Constitution on I-day

THE Left parties in Telangana marked Independence Day by pledging to save the constitution of India. In the programme held across the 34 districts, members of the parties raised slogans to save the Indian constitution and its secular fabric. They also raised slogans against communalism and resolved to drive away the disruptors of the constitution of the country.

TN: Madras HC Says No to Reopening of Sterlite Plant

REITERATING once again the environmental concerns of the people of Thoothukudi district, the Madras High Court refused on August 18 the request for reopening the Vedanta-owned Sterlite Copper smelting plant there. It may be recalled that 13 people were killed in police firing on May 22, 2018 during a peaceful protest raising pollution concerns in connection with the plant. A bench of Justices T S Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan delivered the judgement which was hailed by all political parties, including the ruling AIADMK, with the sole exception of BJP.

Search form

Peoples Democracy newsletter