Vol. XLIX No. 20 May 18, 2025

CPI(M) Demands Special Parliament Session

IN a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12, M A Baby, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has called for the immediate convening of a special session of Parliament to address ceasefire developments and related national concerns. The letter was written in...

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CPI(M)’s Submissions to the Election Commission of India

THE initiative taken by the Election Commission of India to invite recognised political parties for discussions is welcome. We hope this engagement and consultations with political parties will become a regular exercise. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been raising several pertinent issues concerning the conduct of elections as also the larger question of safeguarding and deepening democracy, for quite some...

Obliterating the Truth about Nazi Defeat

NAZI Germany was basically defeated by the Soviet Union. The sacrifice made by the Soviet people in defence of their country in that war was utterly unimaginable. From the very beginning however there has been an effort by the western powers to obliterate this truth and to claim instead that the defeat of Nazi Germany was the result of their endeavour. In the beginning pushing this alternative narrative was only a muted effort; and it did not cut much...

Excess Deaths for 2021: Six Times Higher than Official COVID Figures

IN the aftermath of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic – India finally confronts a harsh reality: the true toll of the pandemic was far greater than official counts ever recognised. Government figures now confirm what public health officials, data journalists, and international agencies had been warning all along – that COVID related deaths were greatly underestimated.

Financialisation and Sluggish Private Corporate Investment

SINCE the global financial crisis, India experienced a declining trend of investment to GDP ratio particularly due to declining investment growth in the private corporate sector. In the recent past, there has been little uptick in this ratio driven by capital expenditure undertaken by government spending. Although such high capital expenditure for successive years didn’t even ‘crowd in’ private investment.

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Victory Day 1945: The Fall of Berlin and the Defeat of Nazi Germany in Second World War

THE fall of Berlin on May 8th/9th in the Second World War is widely celebrated as the Victory Day as it heralded the defeat of Nazi Germany. Though the World War in the Pacific, East Asia and South East Asia continued for another four months, it was only an attempt by Japan to secure better terms of surrender, particularly for its “God” Emperor. As various historians have...

Media’s Shameful Role in Recent Hostilities

THE recent 100-hours of active hostilities between India and Pakistan was also the occasion for a hysterical media circus which saw all principles and ethics thrown out of the windows, to be replaced by wild and deranged claims, even wilder advice on military tactics, and euphoric celebrations that hardly resonated with most of the befuddled viewers. Presumably, the same must have been happening in Pakistan.

MP: Alarming Attempts to Communalise Indian Army

INDIA has always taken pride in its army, known worldwide for its discipline, dedication, and bravery. The Indian Army's legacy is one of integrity and unity, and it is this foundation that has inspired generations and upheld national security. Its commitment to secularism, communal harmony, and humanity raises hopes for a bright future. However, under the current BJP-led central government, this proud legacy is being jeopardised....

There Is Nothing to Celebrate in a War

A WAR zone is an ugly place. It is a place of noise and dust, the language of blood written on walls, a place of young men mostly who are afraid and allow that fear to produce the adrenaline necessary to kill or be killed; and if they cannot generate sufficient adrenaline, then they turn to captagon (a mixture of amphetamine and theophylline) or some other narcotic to dull their anxiety and their fear.

Consolation during Conflict: How Students Got to Safety amidst Operation Sindoor

DAYS marked by chaos, destruction, panic and uncertainty mark the impact of Operation Sindoor in the border states of India and Pakistan. The unrest, which began on May 7, when India launched an attack targeting various terrorist camps in Pakistan, escalated on May 8 and 9, leading to widespread panic among the population residing near the India-Pakistan border. Jammu and...

AIDWA Denounces MP Minister’s Statement Against Col. Sophia Qureshi

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in a statement issued on May 14, has strongly condemned the highly irresponsible, despicable and communal remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah against a senior army officer, Colonel Sophia Qureshi, whose family prides itself on a three-generation history of service in the army.