ECONOMIC indicators once again are flashing worrying signals. The unemployment rate in India at the moment is above 8 per cent, the consumer price index (combined) taken as a measure of headline inflation is above 6 per cent and the wholesale price index showing year-on-year growth is close to 13 per cent as of January 2022.
AN alarming, strange and implausible incident took place on Wednesday, March 9 this year when a missile, stated to be undergoing routine maintenance in Sirsa, Haryana, was unexpectedly and unintentionally fired, and landed in Mian Channu village, district Khanewal, Punjab, in Pakistan, thankfully without casualty or serious damage. The episode was, however, acknowledged only a day later by Pakistan and by India a further day afterwards on Friday, March 11, both sides especially Pakistan appearing not to want to escalate the incident even though it afforded plenty of opportunity.
THE relocation of capital from the advanced capitalist countries of the north to low- wage countries of the south in the current era of globalisation has received much attention; but there is another kind of relocation that has not received as much attention, and that is of labour from comparatively lower-wage countries of Eastern Europe to the advanced capitalist countries. In fact since within the European Union there is generally free mobility of labour, this has become a powerful inducement for these Eastern European countries to join the European Union.
THERE are three major takeaways from the recent assembly elections in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. First, the decisive victory for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh for the second successive term and its success in Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa to retain its governments.Though the BJP and its allies got a lesser majority, their vote share has increased by 3.65 per cent to 45 per cent.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau met in New Delhi on March 12-13. It has issued the following statement on March 13RECENT ASSEMBLYELECTIONSThe BJP was elected to form governments once again in all its incumbent states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. With intensified communal polarisation, control over large sections of the media and immense money power, BJP could retain its Uttar Pradesh government with a reduced majority. The people of Punjab voted for the Aam Aadmi Party rejecting the traditional two parties – Congress and Akali Dal.
THE Karnataka High Court judgement is a blow against the universal right to education without discrimination, guaranteed by the law and the constitution of India. There are many questionable aspects of the judgement.
RED books day was observed enthusiastically by the CPI(M) leaders, cadres and followers throughout Andhra Pradesh. Prajasakti and Visalandhra publishing houses jointly conducted a meeting in Vijayawada at the Marx Engels statue square. Left intellectuals and sympathizers took part in the programmes at many places.
THE All India Kisan Sabha, in a statement issued on March 3, has extended its support to the consistent struggle of the courageous anganwadi workers and helpers who have carried on the struggle undeterred by the attacks unleashed. As the struggle has continued for more than 85 days now, the Manoharlal Khattar led BJP government has resorted to threats, harassment, mass arrests. Striking anganwadi workers, helpers and their family members, who were travelling from different parts of the state to participate in the march to Haryana assembly on March 3, 2022 have been arrested.
BEFORE joining the neo-liberal order, India used to have “rupee payment arrangements” with the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries under which the main international reserve currency, the US dollar, was used neither for settling transactions nor even as the unit of account in terms of which the trade-related transactions were denominated. The dollar in short was used neither as the means of circulation, nor even as the unit of account under these “rupee payment arrangements”.
“OH that house? It’s in the sea now- there!”, a story on the PARI website describes the engulfing of a house and many other houses in Uppada village, East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. T Maramma’s joint family lived in that house until the early years of this century.