EMS Smrithi 2016 Attempts a Rainbow Coalition of the Political Left, Intellectuals & Social Movements for a Progressive ‘Idea of India’

MORE than 1000 delegates converged in Thrissur on June 13-14, for the EMS Smrithi 2016, on the ‘Idea of India – A New Agenda for Social, Economic and Environmental Justice’. The national discourse was organised in the context of the current political and economic challenges under the right wing NDA government with the intent to create a rainbow platform to not just resist the communal and pro-corporate policies but also to articulate an alternate economic paradigm.

Two Years of Modi-led BJP Government and Corruption

EVERYONE remembers that during the Lok Sabha election campaign by Narendra Modi he had promised ‘Na Khaunga, na Khane Doonga” (will not take bribes, nor allow anyone else to do so)

100 Percent FDI in Defence: How Wrong Can You Get?

A GOLDEN Raspberry Award or Razzie has been awarded in Hollywood every year since 1981 to the film declared to be the worst movie of the year just a day before the Oscars. If there were a Razzie for the worst public policy in India in the recent past, it would certainly go to the Modi government’s announcement of opening up the defence manufacturing sector to 100 percent FDI with relaxed norms.

Comrade Mohammed Nizamuddin

THE secretariat of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expressed its profound grief at the passing away of Comrade Mohammed Nizamuddin, veteran trade union leader from West Bengal, general secretary of the All India Beedi Workers’ Federation and a member of the all India working committee of CITU. He passed away in Kolkata on June 21, 2016 at the age of 83.

CITU Condemns Anti-Worker Measures On the Pleas of Promoting Garment Sector

THE CITU, in a statement issued on June 23, has strongly denounced the anti-labour measures in the so-called special package for the textile and garment sector approved by the union cabinet without any consultations with the trade unions.

CITU Denounces Changes in FDI Norms

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions, in a statement issued on June 21, has strongly denounced the sweeping changes made by the Modi led BJP government to ease FDI in nine key sectors including defence, aviation, pharmaceutical and food processing.

Stop the Hoax, says AIFWAH

THE All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, in a statement issued on June 23, has strongly condemned the hoax by the ministry of women and child development and its minister Maneka Gandhi on the service conditions of 27 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers in the country. AIFAWH demanded that the minister apologise to the anganwadi workers and helpers for the continuous misinformation campaign.

Maharashtra AIDWA State Conference Held Successfully

THE tenth Maharashtra state conference of the All India Democratic Women’s Association was held in the Shaheed Dr Narendra Dabholkar Nagar in Sangli city from June 3-5, 2016. The hall of the conference was named after Shamali Gupta and the dais was named after Shaheed Com Govind Pansare.

Afghanistan: Beginning of a New Bloody Chapter

THE assassination of the Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour by an armed drone dispatched on the express orders of the American president, seems to have quashed all hopes of Afghan peace talks reviving in the near future. Mansour was killed along with the driver of the taxi car they were traveling on a highway in a remote part of Pakistan's Balochistan province. Though the car along with its occupants was charred beyond recognition, the passport which Mansour was carrying was found intact and displayed to international media.

Thinking Together

There is no recruitment for the government posts at the state and central government levels. Why is the CPI(M) and Left not taking up this issue in a big way?
Shyamlal Panda, Raigada

THE central government and most of the state governments are not filling up the vacancies in government posts. In fact there is a official ban on recruitment to these posts. According to the Seventh Pay Commission, in the central government departments there are 7.47 lakh vacancies. Lakhs more are there lying vacant at the state governments’ level.

Search form

Peoples Democracy newsletter