Policyholders’ Interests in Jeopardy as Govt Mulls Listing of LIC

THE government’s reported move to list Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in stock markets and raise foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in the insurance industry is an ominous sign for the public sector undertaking (PSU). Such a decision will endanger the interest of policyholders and affect the development of our country.

Modi’s Labour Law Changes Will Increase Exploitation of Workers

IT is ironic that as India prepares for the 100th anniversary of the trade union movement in the country next year, the ruling BJP government led by Narendra Modi has pushed through key changes in labour laws that will effectively push down wages, increase working hours and dilute the enforcement machinery. The Code on Wages was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2019 and it will now have to go to Rajya Sabha for approval before it becomes law. Meanwhile the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions has been tabled in the Lok Sabha.

Kashmir on the Verge of Faqakashi

IQBAL Ahmad, resident of Anantnag had tears rolling down his eyes as his wife called him from a local police station in Anantnag after three days of jostling. This is how; apparently all over Kashmir valley; the people are forced to queue up at the police stations to call their relatives in mainland India; in Srinagar city just 300 landlines are made functional, it’s ridiculous! Iqbal, along with two other elected panchayat representatives, who are from the Bakarwal tribal community had come to tell their woes to the leaders of the political parties in New Delhi.

Indian Media on Kashmir: Peddling Govt Lies

“NORMALCY returns to Kashmir,” declares the anchor from the Delhi studio of an English news channel on August 9. The channel’s reporter, parachuted in Srinagar from Delhi, parrots similar lines: “Normalcy is returning to Kashmir…There has been no law and order situation in Kashmir.” It came days after the Narendra Modi government announced its decision on August 5 to scrap the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the constitution and divide the state into two union territories.Since August 4th night, the Modi government has put Jammu and Kashmir under an unprecedented lo

West Asia: Cheap Drones and the Shifting Strategic Balance

SAUDI Arabia, which started the Yemen war with its own coalition of the willing, is now facing the blow-back with Houthis launching a series of drone and missile attacks on infrastructure. Earlier Houthi missile attacks on Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports seems to have led to a rethink in the United Arab Emirates leadership on the dangers of military interventions abroad, leading to their partial disengagement from Yemen. The US also has now announced direct talks with the Houthis.

TAMIL NADU: Public will Oppose Tyrannical Modi Govt

MODI government, elected the second time, has become tyrannical and started demolishing the foundation of the Indian Constitution in a pre-designed manner, said Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat at a public meeting held in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu on August 24. The country’s economy is in doldrums and the government has failed to provide a tangible solution to the crisis.

NAJ ,DUJ Caution against Watch Dogs Becoming Lap Dogs of Govt

THE National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), join the Press Association members and some other bodies against the unilateral decision of the chairman of Press Council of India, Justice CK Prasad filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to intervene in a writ filed by Kashmir Times executive editor Anuradha Bhasin.

Defence Strike Deferred

THE strike of the defence employees has been deferred/postponed by the three major unions and Confederation of Defence Recognised Association (CDRA) that were spearheading it. On August 23, a meeting with secretary, defence production, was held in which this decision was taken to postpone the strike on the assurance given by the government through the secretary.

Central Trade Unions Congratulate Defense Employees

THE Central Trade Unions (CTUs) – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC, in a statement issued on August 23, have congratulated the defense employees for the successful strike from August 20 in all the industrial, non-industrial (clerical, office staff) defense production units. Junior officers, charge hands have walked out of 41 ordnance factories (OF). The strike was against the Modi government’s plans to corporatise and then to privatise the ordnance factories.

AP: ASHA Workers Demand Release of Pending Wages

THOUSANDS of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) staged a sit-in dharna at Vijayawada on August 26 demanding release of their wages that are pending for the last eight months. They also opposed the grading system introduced recently by the government intending to harass them and is a threat to their job security. Police detained many ASHA workers in their respective districts from 25th itself. Family members of ASHAs also were taken into custody at some places.

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