IN the wake of major electoral reverses for the BJP in the recently held assembly elections to the five states, it has been widely recognized that the agrarian crisis and its most inhuman expression-the burgeoning farmers’ suicides have taken a heavy toll in the electoral battle field. However, commentators are loudly declaring nemesis for the ruling dispensation on another count.
WHEN the first volume of Capital appeared, the Second Congress of the International Workingmen’s Association had just finished its work in Lausanne. PROLETARIANINTERNATIONALISM While drafting the documents of the International, Marx believed that the forces that unite the working class—the forces of proletarian internationalism—would prevail in the labour movement.
KERALA'S renaissance movements in the past 100 years made big strides. These movements had helped women in the struggle to shake off patriarchy and advance towards gender equality. But unfortunately, following the recent Supreme Court verdict which allowed the entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple, there had been attempts to belittle the achievements of the women in Kerala and to sideline them as second class citizens.
THE National Rural Employment Guarantee Act that brought the MGNREGS into being was a unique piece of legislation in the history of independent India. It stipulated that employment was to be made available on demand, within a fortnight of being asked for, failing which an unemployment allowance had to be paid. True, its scope was confined only to rural areas, and it promised employment only upto 100 days per household per year; but it made employment a right.
THIS year also, the Indian Science Congress held in Jalandhar, covered itself with shame; as it has been doing for the last few years. Venkataramanan Ramakrishnan, the Nobel Prize winning scientist, had called it a circus for discussing in Mumbai session of the science congress the irrational: ancient India had aircrafts, genetic engineering, etc.
THE country has witnessed a massive two days countrywide general strike on January 8-9, 2019 by the working people against the anti-people, anti-worker and anti-national policies of the BJP-led government of India. The general strike was called by all, in the united platform of 10 central trade unions and almost all independent national federations.
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has visited 92 countries since 2014. In sharp contrast, Manmohan Singh, his predecessor at the PMO undertook only 93 foreign trips during his 10 years in office. The difference in number of diplomatic visits reflects the style and priorities of the two prime ministers. Manmohan Singh largely travelled to meet diplomatic commitments and obligations.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statements on January 8, 2019THE Supreme Court judgement reinstating the CBI Director Alok Verma shows how the Modi government has subverted and subordinated every single rule and norm in the functioning of institutions like the CBI, to suit its narrow political interests.The judgement is a strong indictment of the Modi government and specifically the prime minister himself as the Department of Personnel and Training under which the CBI functions, is in his charge.If the prime minister had a conscience, he should have r
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on January 8, 2019THE decision of the Union Cabinet to accord 10 percent reservation to the economically weaker sections among the general category is an electoral ploy. This decision comes a day before the current session of Parliament is scheduled to end with an eye on the forthcoming general elections.
THE magnificent country wide general strike on January 8-9, 2019 reflected the tide of people’s anger against the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national neoliberal policies pursued by the BJP led government at the centre.