THE ruling BJP and its allies are trying to undermine the very democratic system of our nation by taking away the rights of parliamentarians. The last monsoon session saw some of the most humiliating days for our democracy. The ongoing winter session is witnessing an even worse phase. Listening to the opposition is unavoidable in democracy. But the BJP is trying how not to answer the questions posed by the opposition, and how to silence the MPs asking questions.
OVER 15 lakh construction workers participated in a two-day nationwide strike on December 2-3, 2021, at the call of the Construction Workers’ Federation of India, one of the largest federations of CITU, and made it a phenomenal success. Braving arrests, threats and intimidations, over a million construction workers rose in rage against the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the Modi regime. The two-day strike action was the largest ever in the history of the unorganised sector.
ON December 4, 2021, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) held a crucial meeting to discuss the pending demands of the farmers' movement and the lack of a formal response from the government of India. It was decided unanimously that the farmers' agitation will continue as it is, until formal and satisfactory responses are obtained from the government of India.It will be recalled that the SKM had sent a letter to the prime minister of India on November 21, two days after the prime minister's address to the nation to announce the repeal of the three farm laws on November 19.
SOME of the worrying features of recent employment trends raise doubts about the discourse of post pandemic robust recovery advocated by the government and the political establishment. It is not at all surprising that the economy faced severe contraction during the pandemic and as situations ease off, the economy once again records positive growth in different sectors.
IF “loss of China” was the main worry of the American strategic community in the 1950s, then their current nightmare is the drifting of Russia towards China. Yet, the transatlantic alliance partners, led by the US, have done everything possible to push Russia away. On the other hand, Beijing has played its cards well by investing in Eurasian connectivity to woo Russia. The net result is that the Sino-Russian alliance has been gaining momentum in almost all spheres –political, economic and military. A strong bond exists between President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on December 6THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the botched operation by the army in Mon district of Nagaland that led to the killing of, at least, 17 civilians and one soldier.The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and demands that adequate compensation be immediately announced by the central government.The explanation given by the army that these ghastly killings happened due to an “intelligence failure” does not explain how such an ambush blunder occurred.
THE 22nd Odisha state conference of CPI(M) held in the Steel City of Rourkela from November 30 to December 2, 2021 (Banamali Dhupal Nagar and Marsha Samad Manch) gave the clarion call to strengthen the Party and mass organisations by developing day-to-day contact with the people of the state on the burning issues they face and to broaden the struggles. A total number of 158 delegates, 46 observers and two special invitees attended the conference.Bonai, the mining hub of Odisha, hosted the open session of the conference (Lili Mohan Gope Manch).
A MASSIVE statewide kisan mazdoor mahapanchayat was held on November 28, 2021 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on the occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Jotirao Phule. Tens of thousands of peasants, workers, agricultural labourers, women, youth and students of all religions and castes from all over Maharashtra thronged this mahapanchayat. It was organised by the Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha (SSKM), which comprises around 100 organisations. There were large contingents from the districts of Thane, Palghar, Nashik, Raigad, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Mumbai itself.