GST, the Biggest Neoliberal Push

THE Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime began on July 1, 2017. Thousands of columns in newspapers were filled with news on the “great virtues” of the GST and advertisements by governments and corporates. And, to take credit for it, there is a public debate between former union finance minister P Chidambaram and the incumbent Arun Jaitley as to who fathered the GST; was it UPA or NDA?Jaitley claimed total unanimity of central and state governments, MPs and MLAs and political parties on the GST.

On Economic Implications of Restrictions on Cow Slaughter

INDIA’S livestock economy is among the biggest in the world. A ban on cow slaughter would either result in more and more unproductive animals being killed in most unscientific and cruel ways or would entail such a high cost for maintaining unproductive animals that cattle rearing would cease to be a profitable enterprise for farm households.

MAHARASHTRA: CPI(M) Holds State Class, Takes Decisions in Line with Plenum Directives

THE meetings of the CPI(M) Maharashtra state committee held on June 1 and July 2 took important decisions in line with the directives of its state plenum held in March 2017. The first meeting was attended by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and central secretariat member Nilotpal Basu.STATE PARTY CLASSThe CPI(M) held a three day state class last month from June 2-4, in Mumbai. It was attended by 154 leading comrades from 25 districts. They included 41 state committee members.

Convention on Soviet Revolution Held in Gaya

A CONVENTION on ‘the Soviet Revolution and Effects of Neoliberalisation’ was organised in Gaya in Bihar on July 9. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat addressed the convention at the Hasrat Mohani Auditorium. He spoke on the background of the Russian revolution and its successes in the fields of education, food distribution, health care and eradication of unemployment. He explained how this socialist revolution heralded a new era in the history of mankind, by giving equal rights to women in society.

CITU Dharna across Andhra Pradesh Demanding Minimum Wage, Social Security

THOUSANDS of CITU cadre laid siege to district collectorates across Andhra Pradesh on July 3, demanding minimum wages and social security and opposing dilution of social welfare measures. The state government tried to suppress the agitation through all means. On the call of the CITU state committee, thousands of people took part in the ‘Sramikha Sankharavam’ movement.Hundreds of CITU cadre, agricultural workers were taken into preventive custody and several hundred more were arrested across the state.

ANDHRA PRADESH: Dalits Struggle for Self Respect

With the pressure exerted by the activities of the KVPS and Mahabharatha Hakkula Porata Committee, the district administration was forced to intervene and ensure that dalits are allowed participation in the conduct of Mahabharat festival. The district collector and superintendent of police had conducted many parlays with the upper caste people and the dalits that ultimately forced the upper castes to concede to the demands of the dalits.THIS is a saga of struggle for self respect by dalits, near the abode of the wealthiest Hindu God in the world.

AIKS Invites Logo Specimen for its National Conference

THE All India Kisan Sabha is holding its 34th all India conference at Hisar in Haryana from October 3-6, 2017.

“One Tax, One India”: The Gainers and Losers

THE launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime on the midnight of June 30, 2017 has been marketed by the Modi government as a big ticket reform that will benefit all stakeholders. In its media blitz to justify the measure, the government claims that the GST would “help to create a unified common national market for India, giving a boost to foreign investment and “Make in India” campaign” and reduce the overall burden of the indirect tax burden of the consumer.

Kisan Mukti Yatra Pays Homage to Mandsaur Martyrs

THE brutal events of May 5, 2017 will probably change the course of politics in Madhya Pradesh. Five, mostly young, agitating farmers died on the spot of bullet wounds in Pipilyamandi town of Mandsaur district. One more succumbed to his injuries later on. This act of unparalleled brutality – all those who died had been shot above their waists, a 17 year old was shot in the head in the police station – created shock waves across the state.Mandsaur and the neighbouring district of Neemuch are traditional strongholds of the RSS-BJP.

Lakhs of Anganwadi Workers Observe Demands Day on July 10

THE All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH), in a statement issued on July 13, has congratulated the anganwadi workers and helpers all over the country for the magnificent success of the observance of “All India Demands’ Day” on July 10.As per the reports received so far, at the call of AIFAWH, more than six lakh anganwadi workers from 24 states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Uttarak

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