India-China: No Other Way, But Talks

THE standoff between India and China on the Doklam Plateau, adjoining the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan is now a month-old. There have been periodical instances of disagreement on the border in the past years; but this time the Doklam issue has assumed more serious proportions. This is because of the deterioration in the overall relations between the two countries. In the past instances, the two sides have accused each other of crossing into each other’s territories, or, the Line of Actual Control. However, this time there is a difference.

CPI(M) Greets SACP on its 14th National Congress

Below we publish the CPI(M) message of greetings to the 14th Congress of the South African Communist Party. MA Baby, Polit Bureau member and head of the International Department of CPI(M) has attended the Congress which was held from July 10-15, 2017 in Pretoria.Comrades,We are today staring at a world where imperialism is intervening in all regions around the globe and even inciting regional wars.

Mounting Communal Violence in West Bengal

SINCE the start of July, communal conflagration and tensions mounted in large parts of North 24 Parganas district. The district, along with Howrah, Birbhum and Maldaha, has witnessed communal clashes in recent months. Major areas of disturbances this time are in Basirhat, Bangaon, Barasat sub division. Apparently it started with a derogatory Facebook post attacking Islam and its holy places. The identified culprit is a teenager, but whether he acted on his own or had any RSS links, is not clear.

How Smart is Smart City Paradigm of Development?

WITH the advent of the BJP in power, Indian cities too got integrated to the overall development of capitalism in the country. There is a changed scenario where the cities are facing a different role in the name of sustainability, apparently is otherwise, for more appropriation of capital. But one thing is universal in the changing paradigm of development in cities and that is the neo-liberal framework in which the cities are being assigned the task. To quote David Harvey, the cities are now changing from just being city managers to city entrepreneurs.

Withdraw Amendment to Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 2010

THE Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust, in a statement issued on June 30, has noted with dismay the union cabinet’s approval of the amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 2010.

Resolve GST Problems

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on June 30.THERE are a number of problems arising from the Goods and Services Tax which is being hastily implemented from July 1, 2017.There is an imminent threat of inflation and an all-round increase in the prices of consumer goods. This, despite the fact that for a number of commodities the GST rates now fixed are lower than the combined existing rate of centre and state taxes.

No Privatisation of Air India

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on June 30, 2017THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly opposes the decision of the Modi government to privatise the national carrier, Air India.

On Modi’s Visit to Israel

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on July 6, 2017.THE visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel marks a rupture in the long-held position of India which has viewed Israel as an occupying power of Palestinian territories.The announcement of a “strategic partnership” with Israel in the joint statement, which is a strategic alliance, amounts to a virtual abandonment of the Palestinian cause. This was reinforced by Modi not visiting Ramallah and the Palestinian Authority.

That Attraction...Socialism

A RECENT media report revealed a startling fact: “Around 580,000 respondents in 35 countries were asked the question: Would you actively participate in large-scale uprising against the generation in power if it happened in the next days or months? More than half of 18-34 year-olds said yes”. This shows the latent discontent among the youth today. And it is not without reason.Youth unemployment rose to never seen highs in the recent past.

Remembering the Women of the Russian Revolution

Women were truly the ‘midwives of the revolution’ – they were present at the birth and were crucial in the final stages of deliveryTHE centenary of the Russian Revolution has triggered a great deal of interest, not all of which is helpful or illuminating. However, one aspect of the two revolutions of 1917 which has been almost completely disregarded is the role of women.The commonly accepted view is that Russian women featured only twice in 1917.

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