Elections 2014 and the reinvention of rss

CALLING for a review of all saffron terror cases, Indresh Kumar, an important RSS leader who was interrogated for his suspected involvement in the Mecca Masjid blast case, told The Indian Express on May 24, 2014 that “The election results have come as second freedom; this freedom we have got from our own people. Digvijaya Singh and Manish Tewari (Congress leaders --- Ed) must realise that they do not have any right to spoil anybody’s life. These leaders and these agencies must apologise publicly.”

TMC ATTACKS CONTINUE IN WEST BENGAL POST POLL

AFTER the Lok Sabha polls were over in West Bengal, post-poll attacks have reached alarming proportions in almost all districts of the state. At least three CPI(M) activists and sympathisers have been killed in these attack while another, a student, succumbed to the physical and psychological trauma after attack. Several members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) and former MLAs have been assaulted. A number of party offices have also been attacked, ransacked, destroyed and burnt. More than 1000 Left supporters have been injured in these attacks.

Double Whammy Attack

THAT the RSS/BJP speaks with a forked tongue has been well-established. This perfection of the practice of `double speak’ is designed to pursue a dual agenda. One that constitutes the pursuit of the RSS’s core agenda – sharpening communal polarisation – while pursuing another agenda for public consumption. That the RSS/BJP adopted such a dual agenda during its election campaign was articulated in these columns earlier.

LDF Wins Local Body Bypolls

THE CPI(M) led Left and Democratic Front (LDF) has registered an enthusing victory in the byelections for various local bodies. Elections were held for 35 seats in different districts on May 22.
Out of these 35 seats, the LDF has won 18 seats; it wrested from the rival United Democratic Front (UDF) the latter’s 10 sitting seats. While the UDF was able to won only 13 seat, the BJP won just one. Political commentators in the state have described these results as indicative of a possible pro-LDF edge in the upcoming local body elections which are to be held in 2015.

Defend the Party, Left in West Bengal

THE brutal violence against the CPI(M) and the Left Front in West Bengal is continuing after the Lok Sabha elections. For about fifteen days after the polling ended on May 12, there have been widespread attacks targeting the CPI(M) workers and Left Front supporters in various districts. A report of such attacks is published in this issue of People’s Democracy.

Cuba Denounces Subversive Zunzuneo at UN Commission

ON May 12, Anayansi Rodríguez, Cuba’s permanent representative to UN offices in Geneva, emphasised that the Zunzuneo programme launched by the United States to incite subversion in Cuba, violates the agreements adopted at the Information Society World Summit.

DUJ Regrets Pakistan Decision

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has regretted the Pakistan government’s refusal to renew the visas of two Indian journalists posted in Islamabad, and has demanded that the Pakistan authorities reconsider the decision to deny visas to Meena Menon, correspondent of The Hindu, and Snehesh Philip, correspondent of the PTI.

CPI(M) to Review Poll Results

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on May 18, 2014, and subsequently issued the following statement.
THE Polit Bureau discussed the results of the Lok Sabha elections and the post-election situation. It conducted a preliminary review of the elections and the performance of the party. It examined the various factors which led to the poor results for the party and the Left.

CITU Condoles Com Umanath’s Demise

The secretariat of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions issued the following statement on May 21, 2014, mourning the demise of Comrade R Umananth.
THE CITU deeply mourns the demise of Comrade R Umanath, a veteran freedom fighter, stalwart of the working class movement and of communist movement of the country who passed away on May 21, 2014 at around 7.15 a m at Tiruchirapally after prolonged illness at the age of 93.

Left Must Prepare People for Struggles

PRAKASH KARAT DELIVERS SUNDARAYYA MEMORIAL LECTURE
WITH the ascent to power by RSS-backed Narendra Modi, the people of the country will be subjected to twin-pronged attack – intensified pursuit of neo-liberal reforms and heightened communalisation of society resulting in division of people. The task before the Left today is to rally the people against neo-liberal policies and prepare the people for struggles while safeguarding their unity.

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