DESPITE repeated demands by the states, the centre still has not released what is their legitimate due, namely the compensation for their revenue loss owing to the introduction of GST; this has not been paid since August. Meanwhile the Covid-19 pandemic, while adding to the responsibilities of the state governments, has dried up their revenues owing to the lockdown. The main sources of revenue now left to them, leaving aside GST, are taxes on petro-products and alcohol, and stamp duty.

THE war on the Covid-19 virus is quickly transforming into a war against the working class in India. In parliament, in March this year, the government had stated that there are estimated to be around 100 million (10 crore) inter-state migrant workers. A vast majority of them would have lost their livelihoods with the lockdown being imposed. They have lost their places of stay and were driven to desperation by lack of food and shelter for their families.

LAST week, on the night of April 16, a shocking case of mob lynching took place in Gadchinchle village of Dahanu tehsil in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, around 150 kilometres from Mumbai. This incident must be strongly condemned and strict punishment meted out to those proved guilty.What were the facts of the case? Why did it occur? And what is its political fallout? WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?Two sadhus with their driver were going by car from Mumbai to Surat to attend a funeral. Their names were Mahant Kalpavruksha Giri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35) and Naresh Yelgade.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued  the following statement on April 26THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deep concern over the media reports which refer to growing unease of our scientific community including members of the high-powered task force under ICMR.The report of the internal discussion along with the actual minutes of such discussions brought out in public domain, clearly point out that the lockdown will not halt, but at best temporarily suppress the spread of the virus. Unless effective steps are taken, we cannot tackle the pandemic.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 24THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly  condemns the inhuman decision by the Government of India to convert  accumulated rice stocks into ethanol for use as bio-fuel and for manufacture of sanitizers.This decision comes as a slap on the face of the millions of migrant workers, other unorganised sector workers and other poor who are suffering untold hardships including acute shortage of food bordering on starvation because of the lockdown.