Interim Budget Reveals a Decade of Neglect

Below we publish the extracts from the statements issued by various organisations on the interim budget presented by the union government on February 1.A Desperate Push towards Privatisation: CITUThe Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) strongly condemns the interim budget presented by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, deeming it a collection of falsehoods and a desperate push towards privatisation. The budget is an attempt to regain political power by asserting an unfounded 50 per cent increase in average income and falsely portraying moderate inflation.

CITU Working Committee Calls for Defeating the BJP Govt

THE working committee of CITU, which met in Hanumakonda, Telangana from February 2-3, has called upon the working class of India to intensify decisive class actions to isolate and defeat the corporate-communal nexus running the government. The working committee has also called upon the working class across the country to actively participate in nationwide joint protest actions, rural bandh, and sectoral strikes called by the central trade unions (CTUs) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on February 16.K Hemalata, president, CITU hoisted the red flag and presided over the meeting.

Interim Budget: Vacuous Claims and Massive Expenditure Cuts

USUALLY greater allocation for expenditures that directly impact the poor are termed as ‘populist’ by the mainstream media and ironically sops given to the rich in the form of corporate tax cuts or capital subsidies are considered to be prudent and responsible fiscal measures facilitating ‘efficient’ allocation of resources. In post-reform India this had been the usual narrative offered by the media to central government’s expenditure cuts during budget announcements.

The Budget and the Inversion of Reason

THE BJP government holds that truth is what Modi says; if evidence points otherwise then evidence must be wrong and should be suppressed. Modi says that India never had it so good as during the last decade of his government; but since official statistics contradict him, the statistics must be wrong and the statistical system must be changed. In this manner one of the finest statistical systems of the global south, built with great effort and care, is being demolished by this government.

Kerala Fights for Its Rights

THE Kerala chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, the entire cabinet and all the MLAs and MPs of the Left Democratic Front sat in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on February 8. The sit-in was to highlight the central government’s discriminatory attitude to Kerala and the hostile actions of the centre to financially strangulate the state government. On the same day, big demonstrations were held over Kerala supporting the Delhi action.

Interim Budget 2024-25: Modi `Development Model’ – Enriching the Rich by Squeezing the Poor

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on February 1.DESPITE the tall claims made by the finance minister about the state of India’s economy, the interim union budget for 2024-25 reveals the grim economic situation confronting India’s working people and the vicious face of the Modi government’s conception of ‘development’ which is designed to make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer.

What the GDP Hides

THERE are well-known problems associated with the concept of gross domestic product as well as with its measurement.

Transport Workers to Join Feb 16 Strike; Demand Repeal of MV Act Amendment

THE All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation has appealed to all the drivers and other stakeholders to make the one-day strike on February 16, demanding the repeal of MV Act Amendment- 2029, a success.The All India Coordination Committee of Road Transport Workers organisations consisting of CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, LPF, TUCI, AICCTU, have unanimously given a call for a one-day strike on February 16.

TN: Platform for People's Unity Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

THE Tamil Nadu Platform for People's Unity organised a seminar on Palestine and Kashmir issues in North Chennai on January 10, at Vani Mahal near Jeeva Park Tondiarpet. Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, convenor of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in Jammu and Kashmir, was the main speaker. S Kumar, coordinator of Chennai Makkal Medai, chaired the event, and Saravana Tamilan extended a warm welcome.

The International Court of Justice Censures Israel for Its Genocidal War

ON January 26, 2024, the judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released their twenty-nine-page order that found ‘plausible’ (paragraph 54) evidence that Israel was conducting a genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza. The court intervened in that war due to South Africa’s application that Israel had violated its obligations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). South Africa came to the ICJ two months and three weeks into Israel’s brutal military bombardment against the Palestinians.

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