India Playing the US Game

THE Modi government is making India flow into the American military fold at a break-neck speed. In 2016, India became a “Major Defense Partner” of the United States (US). Buying military equipment from the US is the high point of Modi’s foreign policy. He is aiming to make India a full-fledged US military ally and privatise national defence before the end of his term as prime minister. Today, US is India’s biggest arms supplier.

Harmony is the Conscience of Bengal Massive Left Rally Sends Message

TENS of thousands of people marched in Kolkata on July 12 strongly denouncing communal forces and hailing the state’s legacy of harmony. The huge rally once again expressed the determination to thwart the attempts of communal polarisation in West Bengal.West Bengal has witnessed communal tension and polarisation, sporadic clashes in recent times. These incidents, a rarity for almost four decades, have haunted the atmosphere of the state. The most recent disturbances took place in some parts of North 24 Parganas, including Baduria, Basirhat.

GST, the Biggest Neoliberal Push

THE Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime began on July 1, 2017. Thousands of columns in newspapers were filled with news on the “great virtues” of the GST and advertisements by governments and corporates. And, to take credit for it, there is a public debate between former union finance minister P Chidambaram and the incumbent Arun Jaitley as to who fathered the GST; was it UPA or NDA?Jaitley claimed total unanimity of central and state governments, MPs and MLAs and political parties on the GST.

On Economic Implications of Restrictions on Cow Slaughter

INDIA’S livestock economy is among the biggest in the world. A ban on cow slaughter would either result in more and more unproductive animals being killed in most unscientific and cruel ways or would entail such a high cost for maintaining unproductive animals that cattle rearing would cease to be a profitable enterprise for farm households.

MAHARASHTRA: CPI(M) Holds State Class, Takes Decisions in Line with Plenum Directives

THE meetings of the CPI(M) Maharashtra state committee held on June 1 and July 2 took important decisions in line with the directives of its state plenum held in March 2017. The first meeting was attended by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and central secretariat member Nilotpal Basu.STATE PARTY CLASSThe CPI(M) held a three day state class last month from June 2-4, in Mumbai. It was attended by 154 leading comrades from 25 districts. They included 41 state committee members.

Convention on Soviet Revolution Held in Gaya

A CONVENTION on ‘the Soviet Revolution and Effects of Neoliberalisation’ was organised in Gaya in Bihar on July 9. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat addressed the convention at the Hasrat Mohani Auditorium. He spoke on the background of the Russian revolution and its successes in the fields of education, food distribution, health care and eradication of unemployment. He explained how this socialist revolution heralded a new era in the history of mankind, by giving equal rights to women in society.

CITU Dharna across Andhra Pradesh Demanding Minimum Wage, Social Security

THOUSANDS of CITU cadre laid siege to district collectorates across Andhra Pradesh on July 3, demanding minimum wages and social security and opposing dilution of social welfare measures. The state government tried to suppress the agitation through all means. On the call of the CITU state committee, thousands of people took part in the ‘Sramikha Sankharavam’ movement.Hundreds of CITU cadre, agricultural workers were taken into preventive custody and several hundred more were arrested across the state.

ANDHRA PRADESH: Dalits Struggle for Self Respect

With the pressure exerted by the activities of the KVPS and Mahabharatha Hakkula Porata Committee, the district administration was forced to intervene and ensure that dalits are allowed participation in the conduct of Mahabharat festival. The district collector and superintendent of police had conducted many parlays with the upper caste people and the dalits that ultimately forced the upper castes to concede to the demands of the dalits.THIS is a saga of struggle for self respect by dalits, near the abode of the wealthiest Hindu God in the world.

AIKS Invites Logo Specimen for its National Conference

THE All India Kisan Sabha is holding its 34th all India conference at Hisar in Haryana from October 3-6, 2017.

“One Tax, One India”: The Gainers and Losers

THE launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime on the midnight of June 30, 2017 has been marketed by the Modi government as a big ticket reform that will benefit all stakeholders. In its media blitz to justify the measure, the government claims that the GST would “help to create a unified common national market for India, giving a boost to foreign investment and “Make in India” campaign” and reduce the overall burden of the indirect tax burden of the consumer.

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