On the North East Region

The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep concern over the continuing state of underdevelopment and backwardness in the North-Eastern region of the country.

Zero Rating: Not Subsidised Internet But Enclosure of the Internet

AFTER the firestorm of criticism from the Indian netizens on the violations of net neutrality by Reliance-Facebook (Internet.org) and Airtel (Airtel Zero), Facebook and Airtel have come out with their defence: they love net neutrality, and will never, never violate this principle. They are only providing cheap internet access to their subscribers, who are currently without this access.

A Simple Calculation

A VERY simple calculation is enough to illuminate what has been happening in the Indian economy over the last few decades. In July 1973, I know from personal knowledge, the starting basic salary of an Associate Professor in a central university was Rs 700 per month. Nowadays the starting basic salary of an Associate Professor in a central university is about Rs 47,000 per month (which is the sum of Rs 39,000 and Rs 8,000 shown under two separate heads).

Central Trade Unions Lash Out Against Labour Policies

THREE central ministers, including Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, had a taste of the anger among the working people of the country when Central Trade Union leaders, in one voice, criticised the government's anti-labour policies. The occasion was a meeting of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) called by the Labour Department on May 15 to discuss about the '10-point charter of demands', on which the CTUs were on struggle for the last six years.

Brutal Police Lathicharge on Workers

TRADE Union workers were lathicharged by the state police in districts even when they were protesting against central government policies. There was a call for statewide law violation movement against the central government by all central trade unions and federations. Krishnanagar, Bolpur, Rampurhat, Durgapur witnessed massive lathicharge by the police on the peaceful demonstration of trade union workers. The police brutality was condemned by CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty and state secretary Dipak Dasgupta.

TMC Celebrates Fourth Year in Office With Series of Violence

AS Mamata Banerjee government celebrated its fourth year in office, series of violent attacks by the ruling party grabbed the headlines. From Durgapur to Coochbehar, almost no area of the state could escape the spurt of violence. In the last two weeks, at least 35 incidents of attack and violence by the ruling party were registered.In Durgapur, the first phase of attack came when CPI(M) workers were collecting money for Nepal victims on May 17. The armed gang of the ruling party suddenly attacked, injuring at least 15 people. They looted the collected money too.

DSMM Demands Judicial Enquiry into Horrific Attack on Dalits in Rajasthan

The following is the statement issued by the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch on May 19.

THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch condemns the horrific crime committed against dalits in Dangawas village in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district where 3 dalit men were killed on May 15. They were mowed down under tractors by the Jats, who are a dominant caste in the region, over a land dispute. Many dalits were grievously injured. Dalit women were molested, severely beaten and there were repeated attempts to disrobe them.

CPI(M) Condemns Disfiguring of Signages Bearing Muslim Names in Delhi

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Delhi state secretariat has issued the following statement on May 15.

THE CPI(M) Delhi state committee strongly condemns the disfiguring by Hindutva elements of sign boards on roads named after historical figures and well known personalities having Muslim names. These include signages bearing names of medieval Sultans and Mughal rulers as well as a signage of the road named after Safdar Hashmi - theatre activist and martyr who fearlessly opposed communal and fundamentalist forces of all hues.

AMALENDU GUHA

AMALENDU Guha who passed away on May 7 in Guwahati, was an outstanding Marxist intellectual of the country. He remained a life-long Communist, though his activist years were from 1943 to 1965. In 1962 when there was large-scale repression against Communists, he was incarcerated in Berhampore jail in Orissa where his co-inmates included Achintya Bhattacharya (one-time state secretary of the CPI(M) in Assam), Biresh Misra (one-time state secretary of the undivided Party in Assam), and Bishnu Prasad Rabha the legendary revolutionary poet of the state.

Do Not Link Aadhar & Voter ID Details

Below we reproduce the text of the letter written by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to the chief election commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi on May 20, 2015 on the linkage of Voter ID card details with Aadhar data base.

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