Massive Dharnas by BSNL Employees

THOUSANDS of BSNL employees sat on three-day dharnas in front of their offices/exchanges, demanding immediate action to provide mobile equipment, broadband modem and cables as well as installation of BTS/Towers to enable the employees to provide better services to the customers. The call for organising three-day dharnas from January 6 to January 8 was given by joint forum of all BSNL unions and associations. In New Delhi, the dharna was organised in front of the BSNL Corporate office, with participation of more than 300 employees.

MAHARASHTRA: AIKS Holds March to Assembly on Peasant Issues

AROUND 5,000 peasants led by the Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha (AIKS) marched to the Nagpur session of the state assembly on December 16, 2014 on burning peasant issues like severe drought, peasant suicides, debt relief, remunerative prices for agricultural produce, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, etc. It was the first and the largest peasant demonstration on the assembly after the BJP-led state government assumed power a month ago. Hence the AIKS action got good publicity in both print and electronic media.

Some Lessons from the Ideas & Work Of Savitribai & Jyotirao Phule

AS the democratic organisations celebrate the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, the dalits of the country face important and stiff challenges for their survival in the contemporary times. The weakening of the social welfare system has led to a social counter revolution led by the conservative rightwing forces and made dalits in particular socially and economically vulnerable. The idea that the neo-liberal State will be a limited State that does not interfere in societal affairs has strengthened social institutions that have given a new fillip to forces of social conservatism.

Agenda of RSS in Indian Science Congress

FOR the first time in the Indian Science Congress in its 102 years history, the organisers held a symposium on “Ancient Sciences through Sanskrit”. Seven papers presented over the five-hour session were invited by the Department of Sanskrit, Mumbai University, and Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas University, and reviewed by the Mumbai University’s Department of Sanskrit. Evidence of ancient aviation in the Rigveda was claimed in a paper co-authored by Captain Anand Bodas, retired head of a pilot training centre, and Ameya Jadhav, a teacher.

The “Niti Aayog”

THE Planning Commission, set up under Jawaharlal Nehru’s prime ministership, was a logical expression of an idea that underlay India’s anti-colonial struggle, namely that in independent India, an improvement in the material conditions of life of the people, subjugated and plundered through a century and a half of colonial rule, required a comprehensive marshalling and conscious allocation of all national resources. It was an essential component of what Nehru had called India’s “tryst with destiny”.

Punjab Holds State Conference of Agricultural Workers Union

THE 28th state conference of the Punjab Agriculture Worker’s Union was held from December 11-13, 2014 in Khankhana village in Jalandhar district to commemorate the first conference of the agricultural workers of Punjab that took place in 1954 from December 11-13, during which the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha was formed with Comrade Darshan Singh Jhabbal elected as the president and Comrade Pundit Bakshi Ram as general secretary.

UTTARAKHAND: Fifth State Conference of CPI(M) Concludes with an Optimistic Note

THE fifth state conference of the Uttarakhand CPI(M) concluded on December 29 at Karan Prayag in the Chamoli district of the state. The township situated on the Badrinath highway at the confluence of River Alaknanda and Pindar was decorated with Party flags, posters, festoons and extensive postering and wall writing.

Niti Aayog: A Regressive Step

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on January 2.

THE announcement of a Niti Aayog to replace the Planning Commission is a regressive step which will further push the country into a market-driven economy and privatisation in all spheres at the expense of diluting even the present inadequate schemes aimed at improving people’s welfare. Whatever role the Planning Commission had, to allocate resources for the public sector and deploying public investment keeping in mind the regional disparities, has now ended.

Wither Scientific Temper?

SECTION V of our Constitution, Article 51A on `Fundamental Duties’ begins by saying: “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…”. In the enumeration of such duties, sub-clause (h) says: “To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”.

Obama Visit: Observe Protest Day on Jan 24

Six Left parties, the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML)-Liberation, AIFB, SUCI(C) and RSP have issued the following statement on January 3, 2015.

THE Modi government and the BJP have unleashed the forces of Hindutva which threaten the secular and democratic values of the Indian republic. It is at such a juncture that the government has invited President Obama of the United States of America to be the chief guest of the Republic Day on January 26.

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