ON June 11, 2017, the BJP-led state government was forced to the negotiating table by the Coordination Committee of Farmers’ Organisations and it had to publicly declare a complete loan waiver for farmers, excluding the richer sections, as a result of the unprecedented 10-day farmers’ strike in Maharashtra, which was backed by a Maharashtra bandh. That report was carried in these columns last month.GOVERNMENT BETRAYAL However, as was only to be expected, the BJP-led state government betrayed its promise of a complete loan waiver within a fortnight.

THOUSANDS of activists participated in a massive joint protest march from Kotwal Garden, Dadar (West) to Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai on July 3 against hate crimes and lynching by fanatic mobs.  Subsequently, a public meeting followed by a cultural programme was held at Chaityabhoomi.The programme was organised jointly by Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh, CPI(M), CPI, LNP, LNP(L), CPI(ML) Lib, SUCI, trade unions belonging to Trade Unions Joint Action Committee (TUJAC), mass organisations of students, youth, women and teachers, cultural organisations of progressive writers, poets, artists and various NGO

THE working committee meeting of CITU, held from July 14-16, at Shimla notes with serious concern the grievous impact of the GST launched by the government of India with much fanfare on July 1, 2017. The GST has adversely impacted the common people at large, particularly the workers in the unorganised sector, people engaged in small and decentralised manufacturing like tailoring, garments, textile, beedi, small drug manufacturing, construction, matches and fireworks and passenger and goods transport etc and also small traders. Even the insurance premium is not spared from high taxation.

THE recent protests that welcomed the G20 Summit are a reflection of the brewing discontent against the continuing global economic crisis. With their future at stake, young people constituting the majority of the protesters led the way in expressing dissent. They stood up bravely to police brutality. Creativity was on wide display during all the days of protest before and during the Summit.Preparations for the protest started months in advance.

EXPRESSING shock and anger at the recent Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) demand that certain words be excised from a film based on the work of the Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, many academics, artists and cultural activists issued a statement on July 13, condemning this censorship.