THE All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF) has issued a press statement on June 3, demanding the Government of India to immediately reduce the prices of petrol, diesel, and gas. The AIRTWF pointed out that the government has lowered the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) while neglecting the financial burdens faced by the common man, highlighting the government's bias towards the affluent.In a recent move, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) increased toll charges by 5 per cent starting June 3, 2024.
A FEW weeks ago, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) released its World Migration Report 2024. Most of these reports are anodyne, pointing to a secular rise in migration during the period of neoliberalism. As states in the poorer parts of the world found themselves under assault from the Washington Consensus (cuts, privatisation, austerity), and as employment became more and more precarious, larger and larger numbers of people took to the road to find a way to sustain their families.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 3, 2024THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the hikes in the prices of all variants of milk by Rs 2 per litre by Mother Dairy and Amul.It is clear that the government was waiting until the elections were over to impose further burden on people.Earlier, immediately after polling was completed, the road toll tax was hiked by 5 per cent across the board.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 4, 2024THE results of the 18th Lok Sabha election are a setback for the BJP. It has lost its majority in the Lok Sabha which it had got in the past two Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019. This is a stinging blow to the image of invincibility built around Narendra Modi, who had boasted about winning 400 seats in this election.The elections were held in the background of all-out attacks on the opposition parties, misuse of central agencies and massive use of money power.
AMONG the states that savagely cut down the odious Modi-Shah-led BJP regime to size in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were the two states with the largest number of MPs in the country – Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Both these states are currently ruled by the BJP.Uttar Pradesh, with 80 Lok Sabha seats, gave 43 seats to the INDIA bloc, an increase of 37 compared to 2019; it gave 36 seats to the NDA, a drop of 28. One independent has won there.
HUNDREDS gathered in solidarity with Palestine at Jantar Mantar on June 1, 2024 against the ongoing Israeli genocide. The protest organised in Delhi at a short notice drew a good response from various organisations, civil society groups and individuals who are concerned about the fate of Palestine and angered by Israeli aggression. The protest demonstration called by the Palestine Solidarity Committee was attended by members of trade unions, student organisations, intellectuals, teachers and other Left progressive sections.
A CONVENTION held in Vijayawada demanded that the governments of Israel and the United States stop attacks on Rafah city and appealed to the Government of India to cease arms supply to Israel. The Left parties held a convention in solidarity with Palestine at Vijayawada on June 3. CPI(M) state secretary V Srinivasa Rao presided over the meeting and placed a resolution, which was adopted unanimously. He described how the people of Palestine were displaced from their homeland and highlighted the US's imperialist machinations behind it.
THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in a statement issued on June 3, has condemned the increase in the prices of all variants of milk by Rs 2 per litre by Amul and Mother Dairy.Also, the increase by 5 per cent of road toll tax will have a cascading impact on prices of all essential commodities leading to an increase in costs adversely affecting the family budgets. This is a betrayal of the people as it has been done immediately after the elections are over.
THE verdict of the 2024 Lok Sabha election is remarkable for the assertion by the people that they value democracy and the constitution. The people have deprived the BJP of an absolute majority, something which it had achieved both in 2014 and 2019. The BJP’s tally has come down from 303 seats to 240 seats – a 21 per cent reduction. NDA has won 292 seats while the INDIA bloc has got 234 seats. The elections were held in the background of the ten years of Modi rule whose hallmark was the institution of an authoritarian regime which promoted the Hindutva-communal agenda.
Muslims in Tiruppur district have made a donation of land worth 6 lakh for a temple in Tamil Nadu. They also collaborated 30,000 for a temple feast held in its inauguration.A HEARTRENDING instance of communal harmony has emerged from the southern state of Tamil Nadu.