Capitalism, Socialism and the Pandemic

IT has taken a tiny but lethal virus, in the twenty-first century, to show up once again, the difference between the two social systems – capitalism and socialism. The way certain countries have dealt with the global coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight this difference.At one end is the United States, the most powerful imperialist-capitalist country in the world. It also has the most extreme form of privatised health care system – a health sector run by corporates and profit driven.

ALL PARTY MEETING CALLED BY PM ON COVID-19: United Activity to Fight Coronavirus Is the Need of the Hour

Below we publish the points raised by Elamaram Kareem, CPI(M) MP in the All Party Meeting called by the Prime Minister on April 08.TAKING part in the all party meeting convened by the Government of India, Elamaram Kareem, CPI(M) MP, began by appreciating the decision of convening the meeting of representatives of political parties to discuss the prevailing national situation. CPI(M) and other Left parties have been requesting the prime minister for calling an all party meeting since February as the Covid-19 pandemic started spreading in India.

PM’s Address Makes a Mockery of the Plight Of Workers, Peasants &Health Workers

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Kisan Sabha and the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union, have issued the following statement on April 3, on the prime minister’s address on the same dayIT is a matter of great concern that around ten days into the country wide lockdown, large sections of the workers including migrant workers, agricultural workers and poor peasants have lost their livelihood, income and are compelled to starve.

CITU Demands Action against Firms Sacking Workers during Coronavirus Lockdown

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) demanded the central government’s intervention to prevent firms from sacking its employees and to ensure payment of salaries during the coronavirus lockdown in the country.As part of its relentless efforts to safeguard the rights of the workers in the country, the union had written the fifth letter in a row, on this issue to the secretary of the ministry of labour and employment.Tapan Sen, the general secretary of CITU, in the letter, highlighted the fact that most of the cases of violation of the government orders in this regard have occurred in the

Jammu and Kashmir: Centre further alienates the people of J & K

THE move by Narendra Modi government to redefine domicile rules for government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir has once again shown how the BJP wants to change the demography of the region.

Withdraw Order on Suspension of PcPNDT Rules: AIDWA

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association, in a statement issued on April 7, has strongly opposed the unjustified move of the Department of Health and Family Welfare suspending rules 8,9 (8) and Rule 18A under the PcPNDT Act, ostensibly due to the coronavirus pandemic. This suspension goes against the main purpose of the Act to stop sex selection by means of certain basic and vital compliances that genetic labs and clinics etc have to follow in keeping records and submitting these for scrutiny to the appropriate authority and for re-registration.

KERALA: Pinarayi Demands PPE for Nurses Working Across India and Abroad

KERALA chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked prime minister Narendra Modi to ensure that personal protection equipment (PPE) is provided for hundreds of Indian nurses working across the country and abroad. He made the demand after a whopping 46 Malayalee nurses working in Mumbai have tested positive for Covid-19.As many as 345 people in Kerala have been tested positive for Covid-19 as on April 8 and nine new cases were reported on the day. Pinarayi said that 212 people from the state had attended the Tablighi meeting in Delhi and 15 of them have tested positive for Covid-19.

The Week in Parliament

IN Lok Sabha, A M Ariff took part in the discussion on budget for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The central government has presented an annual budget of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the union territory for the financial year 2020- 21. By this decision of allocating this much of an amount of money for the UT, the government is giving a message to other states in the country that if every state became a union territory, then the development of the state and unemployment issues will be sorted out by the central government.

Stop Communalising India’s War against Covid-19

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 2IT is a matter of serious concern that a large number of those who attended the meetings of the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi and who dispersed to different parts of the country have been found infected with the coronavirus. It was irresponsible on the part of the Jamaat leadership to have organised the meeting in mid-March when restrictions were already in place about size of gatherings.

Bypassing PMNRF & Setting Up a New Fund Unnecessary

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 1THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) considers the setting up of a separate fund to meet the Covid-19 pandemic called the “PM Cares” as unnecessary.The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) has been in existence since 1948. This fund has reportedly an unspent balance of Rs 3,800 crores. The accounts of the fund are transparent; audited by the CAG; and auto-generated receipts are given to the donors. Given this, many questions are being raised on why a new fund has been created.

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