CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 12, 2020
AFTER domestic apologists close to the government had been justifying the meek submission to blackmail by the US President Donald Trump for easing the export of Hydroxychloroquine on the ground that it was on humanitarian grounds, the latest evidence of US hostility underlines that such noble ideals will never be reciprocated.
DURING the period of the Second World War, the number of industrial workers in India had increased by a little more than 50 per cent. After the end of the war (1945), workers expected that their condition would become better. On the contrary, their problems increased. The Communists, who were leading many of the unions and in the All India Trade Union Council (AITUC) stood in the forefront in taking up these issues and organising huge struggles.
IN Jharkhand, with the confirmation of the death of two people from coronavirus and increasing number of corona positive patients, an atmosphere of panic is prevailing in the state. After Ranchi and Bokaro, new cases are surfacing in Hazaribagh and Giridih, increasing the total number of corona-infected people to 19 in the state. As a precautionary measure, the state government and the administration have completely sealed the areas where cases have been found.
THE fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in India requires a big effort by the states as they have to bear the main expenditure and mobilise the human resources to combat the disease and its economic and social effects. The states have had to scale up health-care facilities, provide free foodgrains and essential supplies and give income support to working people and other sections of society as the lockdown enters its fourth week.
CENTRAL trade unions have opposed any move by the government to amend the Factories Act to enhance the weekly working hours to 72 in the guise of "exceptional circumstances” posed by the coronavirus outbreak. The trade unions – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC – referred to media reports on the proposed amendments and demanded that the government clarify its stand.
EVEN as the people of India face terrible hardships, suffering and distress during the lockdown and yet continue to observe instructions given by governments, the central government and the ruling party continue to push a sectarian agenda. The highly irresponsible behavior of the Tablighi Jamaat became the pretext for the sangh warriors to unleash a vicious campaign against Muslims in general. This led to several direct attacks on Muslims, including some reprehensible attacks on street vendors even in the capital.
EVEN though the first Covid-19 case in India was detected on January 30, the government of India failed to take proper steps to combat it until March. The nationwide lockdown call given by prime minister Narendra Modi leaving only four hours of preparation time, had become a cause of misery for millions of Indians across the country. The Andhra Pradesh state government didn’t pay attention to the Covid-19 warning till the local body elections were postponed.
THE people were looking forward to the prime minister’s address to the nation on the last day of the three-week countrywide lockdown. These three weeks have thrown up many experiences that need to be addressed urgently in order, both, to strengthen our fight against the Covid 19 pandemic and to protect the lives and survival of crores of our fellow citizens. On none of these issues of vital importance did the prime minister have anything substantial to say.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 7
TRUMP’s threat of retaliation for easing restrictions on the export of vital generic drugs including Hydroxychloroquine is a plain attempt at arm twisting. The government’s capitulation to this brazen blackmail undermines the vital concerns in our battle against the viral pandemic. This also signals yet another surrender to US interests.