Electoral Bonds: Evading the Real Issue

THE Supreme Court has declined to stay the issuance of electoral bonds in its current tranche from April 1 to 10. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO, had made an urgent plea that the issuance of bonds meant for the four state assembly elections be stayed.The Court noted that the scheme has operated for the past three years without impediments and certain safeguards have been put in. These are unconvincing reasons. The whole point is that the scheme itself is an opaque way of funding political parties and it is in-built to favour the ruling party.

Serving American Interests

THE visit of the US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, to India barely two months after the Biden administration took office indicates the importance the United States attributes to India as a defence partner and ally.Austin was in Japan and South Korea – both close military and strategic allies of the US in Asia – before coming to India. India being next in his itinerary indicates that the Pentagon views India as of the same status as Japan and South Korea. Lloyd underlined this importance during his visit when he described the India-US partnership as a “central pillar” of American poli

Fight This National Sell-Off

AROUND a million bank employees and officers went on a two-day strike on March 15 and 16 all over the country against the privatisation of public sector banks.

The Unholy Trinity in Kerala elections

THE Kerala Assembly elections are being fought by three alliances – the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA. Both the Congress and the BJP have been targeting the LDF government with a string of false allegations which began with the gold smuggling case in July last year. Now there is a third party in the electoral fray.

Challenges in the Forthcoming Assembly Elections

THE schedule for the assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry has been announced. It stretches from March 27 to April 29.These elections have their own importance for each state, given the political background specific to that state. However, taken together, they have a wider national significance.

Privatsation of PSEs: Loot in the Name of Atmanirbhar Bharat

THE announcement of the privatisation policy of public sector enterprises (PSEs) in the union budget has been greeted with euphoria by the corporate media and rightwing economists. “Modi has changed”, “Extraordinarily bold” and “Real reforms at last” were some of the comments by these circles.What evoked such cheer amongst big business and financial speculators? What was announced in the budget has now been set out by the department of investment and public asset management under the union finance ministry as a memorandum entitled “New Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) policy for Atma Nirbha

Solidarity with People of Myanmar

THERE is a mass upsurge in Myanmar (Burma) against the military takeover. People from all walks of life have been out on the streets in the past fortnight protesting against the brutal suppression of democracy.The Tatmadaw (Myanmar armed forces) effected the coup on February 1, the day the new parliament was to open after the general election in November 2020. The election had resulted in a landslide victory for the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD). The army declared the results to be illegal and deposed President Win Myint and State Counsellor Suu Kyi.

Petrol & Diesel Prices: End This Loot

THE relentless increase in the prices of petrol and diesel is adding to the problems of the people already burdened by the pandemic woes of joblessness and loss of incomes. The daily increase in the retail prices of fuel has led to the price of petrol breaching the Rs 90 per litre mark in various cities. At this rate, the Rs 100 mark will be reached very soon.The government and the oil companies justify this increase citing the rising global prices of crude oil. This is, however, a specious claim.

Learn from the Uttarakhand Disaster

THE terrible disaster in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand on February 7, 2021, has already cost the lives of over 30 persons with another 150 or so missing or trapped. Tragically, most of the dead are workers in different infrastructure and hydro-electric power projects such as the small 13.2 MW project on the Rishiganga river near Raini Village which has been completely destroyed, and the much larger 520MW Tapovan power plant nearby on the Dhauliganga which too is badly damaged and where a number of workers are trapped.

Callous Deception on Health Budget

AFTER the global Covid-19 pandemic exposed the dismal state of India’s public health system, one would have thought that the government would have learnt some lessons. India’s public health expenditure is one of the lowest in the world and stood at 1.3 per cent of GDP in 2019.The Modi government pushed ahead with privatisation of health services in a big way – something which began with the liberalisation policies in 1991. A health system developed where there is a dominant private sector – corporate-run hospitals, private nursing homes, clinics and diagnostic centres. Most of them charg

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