THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

THE monsoon session of parliament started on July 17 with the presidential election. Both the houses met and adjourned after obituary reference. All our MPs casted their votes. The counting of votes was scheduled on July 20 and subsequently, Ram Nath Kovind, fielded by the ruling NDA, was elected the 14th president of India. He is the first from the BJP and the second dalit to enter the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Immediately Ban Vigilante Organisations

Below we publish excerpts from the speech made by Sitaram Yechury, leader of the CPI(M) in Rajya Sabha on July 19, during a short duration discussion on situation arising out of increase in incidents of lynching and atrocities on minorities and dalits across the country.I AM standing with my head hanging in shame. Where has our Republic come to? Seventy years earlier, we had the pride in the world to say -- while no other western democracy could have the courage to say -- that from day one, we shall give universal suffrage for everybody in our country.

Resolution on GST

THE Central Committee of the CPI(M) expresses its deep concern at the adverse impact of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemented from July 1, 2017. The GST has put new burdens on the common people, small and tiny enterprises, traders and unorganised sector occupations. Industries and services like textile, beedi, pharmaceuticals, construction, transport, tailoring, small newspapers, matches and fireworks also have been badly affected; agriculture and allied sectors are also impacted.Though the government claims that the GST has brought down the prices of many commodities, the actual f

Kisan Curfew in Rajasthan

THE peasantry in Rajasthan faces very difficult conditions not only due to the climate which swings from -3 degree centigrade to +50 degree centigrade but also because two thirds of the state is not irrigated. On top of this, the policies of the centre and the state have made the condition of the peasantry much worse. The government is not buying crops at the minimum support price.During these years, it is the falling prices of their produce rather than the famine, which has led to a grave crisis for the peasantry in the state.

Peasant Leaders Call for District Rallies, Jail Bharo on August 9

THE coordination committee of Bhumi Adhikar Andolan which met in New Delhi has decided to intensify the ongoing farmers struggle and called up on the peasantry to participate in large numbers in the district rally, jail bharo programme across the country on August 9.This will be the largest action as part of the ongoing farmers struggle and will be organised in all the states in the country. BAA has requested active support of central trade unions to make the strike action a success. Peasantry, working class and all other sections of the toiling mass will attend the protest rally.

TRIPURA: IPFT’s Blockade: A Deceptive Movement

GIVING a sense of relief to the people of the state, the IPFT has been compelled to withdraw its indefinite blockade of national highway and rail track on July 21st morning. Thus this movement that started with deception on an absurd demand, also ended in a hoax.

MAHARASHTRA: Kisan Dist Conventions Call for Statewide Road Blockade on August 14

THE coordination committee of farmers’ organisations had decided to organise large joint peasant conventions for mass awakening (janjaagran) in major districts all over the state from July 10-23. The report of the first few conventions was carried in these columns last week.A total of 15 massive joint conventions of farmers took place in all the five regions of Maharashtra – northern Maharashtra, Konkan, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra – from July 10-23. Over 40,000 farmers took enthusiastic part in all these conventions despite the sowing season in the monsoons.

KERALA: Protest against Centre’s Strategic Partnership with Israel

CPI(M) has organised a state wide campaign and protest on July 19 against the centre’s strategic partnership with Israel. Modi government has been trying to derail the foreign policy pursued by the country for past several decades. The protest is organised in the wake of Modi’s recent visit to Israel. CPI(M) has appealed all democratic forces to protest against the centre’s decision to make Israel a strategic partner of India.

BJP Top Brass Take Bribe from Medical College Owner

THE entire top brass of BJP’s state leadership is under fire for massive corruption charges against them. The storm was triggered when an internal enquiry commission report which reveals that Rs 5.6 crores have been taken as bribe, was leaked by a section of leaders. The report said that the money was received by the leaders to illegally arrange the sanction from Indian Medical Council to a self financing medical college floated in Cherpulasseri in Palakkad district by some businessmen.

Iranian Elections: ‘Democracy’ Within the Framework of Theocracy

THE presidential elections in Iran on May 19 saw the re-election of President Hassan Rouhani for a second term of office. As was widely expected by most Iranian observers, this was the most convenient outcome for the theocratic regime in Tehran. The election, from the opening of nominations, the vetting of candidates, the televised debates, during a three-week-long campaign, followed the normal practice of a carefully state-managed show.

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