IT is cliché to say that the finance minister had to overcome ‘unprecedented challenges’ in making the annual budget. But,  T M Thomas Isaac had to literally overcome formidable and unprecedented challenges in preparing the annual budget of the state for 2019-20. The state’s economy as well as its exchequer was subjected to severe shocks in the recent past by natural and manmade disasters. The ‘note ban’ and the haphazard introduction of GST had severe adverse consequences on economic activities, especially small and medium enterprises and petty commodity producers.

A LIST of companies under the scanner of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the backdrop of demonetisation was announced in the parliament in March 2018.  This list contains the name of Prajasakti Printers & Publishers Pvt Ltd also. Basing on this, some concocted, baseless stories appeared in some sections of media.

THE Vision document of BJP for the assembly election of 2018 had promised to give 50,000 government jobs to the unemployed youths of Tripura within one year if they formed government. But after 11 months of the BJP led government in office, the much hyped promise of 50,000 government jobs remains unfulfilled. Further, the moves of the government make it clear that it wants to close the doors of government employment for the youth.

TENS of thousands of people, in some estimates a million, thronged the Brigade Parade Ground on February 3 at the call of the Left Front, to assert alternative policies and politics. One of the largest ever mobilisations in Kolkata’s historic ground threw up a challenge to the communal and political polarisation in the state, triggering a new stage of confidence as well as struggle.The rally came as a follow up of series of struggles of different sections of toiling people and huge rallies and padajatras in the state.

AIDWA Rally Attacked in UdaypurIN a clear symbol of frustration and fear as the people are coming out in growing numbers against the misrule of BJP led government in the state, BJP hoodlums attacked a rally of AIDWA in Udaypur of Gomati district on January 28. The organisation had decided to submit a mass deputation to the DM.