Chile: A Defeat for the Far-Right

ON December 19, Chileans voted for a new chapter in their long history. Gabriel Boric, a 35-year old former student leader, was elected as the new president. He secured 56 per cent votes and decisively defeated the far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast, who got 44 per cent votes in the run-off elections. Boric’s victory was significant because it came on the top of nearly a decade long consistent protests against neoliberal policies by various sections.

Covid-19: Runaway Omicron Wave Overtakes Delta

OMICRON, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, has rapidly overtaken all other variants in the new waves of Covid-19 cases that are emerging in South Africa, the UK, the European Union and the US. More worrying is that Omicron is able to infect those who have received two vaccine doses or already had Covid earlier. This is supported by laboratory evidence though they are still very preliminary results. The good news, if it can be called good news, is that most of those who have been vaccinated do not seem to progress to a critical stage.

KARNATAKA: Farmers Assembly Demands Repeal of Three State Farm Laws

ON December 12, 2021, a large farmers' assembly was held at Belagavi in Karnataka under the banner of the Samyukta Horata (united struggle), Karnataka, to celebrate the repeal of the three central farm laws and to put pressure on the BJP's Karnataka state government to repeal the three different anti-farmer farm laws that it forced through the state assembly last year. The Karnataka state assembly was meeting in Belagavi from December 13.

The Political Needle Bends to the Left in Latin America

FOUR emblematic coups have been now substantially reversed: Chile (1973), Peru (1992), Honduras (2009), and Bolivia (2019). Each of these coups were driven by political forces of the hard right backed by the military and by the United States government. Left-leaning governments will all be in power after March 2022, when Gabriel Boric of the Apreubo Dignidad (Approve Dignity) alliance will be sworn in as president of Chile. In January 2022, Xiomara Castro will be the president of Honduras, and in Bolivia and Peru, President Luis Arce and President Pedro Castillo are already in office.

KARNATAKA: Bommai joins Yogi in the ‘Anti-Conversion’ Crusade!

IN Hindi movies, the powerful antagonist stops the marriage saying, “Ye shaadi nahi ho sakti!” This scene would highlight the complete disregard of individual choice and autonomy, the fact that the wedding has already been organised, guests present and all parties being willing participants.

WB: Farce in the Name of Elections

THE farcical election to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has once again exposed the kind of ‘democracy’ being practised in West Bengal. On the day of voting on December 19, TMC gangs captured hundreds of booths and much of the voting process was hijacked. Hoodlums were mobilised from outside the city and entire localities were prevented from reaching to polling booths.The results exposed wide-open this bulldozing of democratic rights of the people. In 34 wards, TMC candidates got more than 80 per cent votes. In another 44 wards, TMC got 70 to 80 per cent votes.

HP: DSMM Holds Seminar on Dalit Issues

HIMACHAL PRADESHDSMM Holds Seminar on Dalit IssuesAshish Kumar A STATE level seminar on dalit issues was held on December 12 in Kali Bari Hall, Shimla by DSMM. This seminar was attended by over 300 delegates from 11 districts. The keynote address was given by Subhashini Ali, vice president of DSMM.Subhashini in her speech said that Himachal is second in the country in dalit population with over 26 per cent. She said dalit atrocities in the state are incessantly continuing.

AP: Padyatra Culminates in a Mass Dharna

THE farmers must launch a united and determined fight against the government’s farm policies which are against farmers. The recent victory of the farmers in Delhi should serve as an inspiration to all the fighting people, said AIKS joint secretary, Vijoo Krishnan on December 18, at Anantapuramu. He was addressing the participants of the Rythu Coolie Rakshana Padayatra, which culminated in a dharna staged outside the district collector’s office.

On Raising Marrying Age for Women

THE central government is set to introduce a bill to raise the marriageable age for women to 21 years. Given its majority in parliament, this bill will probably become law. Yet there are so many important issues that require deeper consideration that the better course would be for the government to refer the bill to the relevant standing committee, instead of pushing it through.A woman is considered an adult at the age of 18. All laws that apply to adult citizens, including criminal laws, will apply to a woman at the age of 18. She is held responsible for the actions she takes.

Karnataka Bill: Attack on Religious Minorities

THE Karnataka anti-conversion bill passed by the legislative assembly is a direct attack on the rights of religious minorities and religious freedom.

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