The Nationalisation of Banks in 1969

ON July 19, 1969, 14 major banks were nationalised in the country. Today, after 52 years there is some talk again of privatising the nationalised banks, which naturally raises the question: why were banks nationalised at all? The answer to this question is usually given in terms of the specific advantages of bank nationalisation; this is correct and appropriate, but what needs also to be kept in mind is the overall perspective underlying bank nationalisation.

AIFFWF Expresses Concern on Draft Policy on Blue Economy

THE All India Fishers and Fisheries Workers’ Federation (AIFFWF) expresses its serious concern at the thrust of the draft policy document on ‘Blue Economy’ announced by the Modi led BJP government.The draft policy aims to throw open our marine resources for unregulated exploration and exploitation including deep sea mining by the big corporations, domestic and foreign. The policy would have a devastating impact on the livelihood of the around four crore marine fishers, who traditionally depend upon the coast for their livelihood and income.

Warm Reception for Pinarayi Vijayan

The CPI(M) Delhi state committee organised a reception for Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of the LDF government in Kerala upon his coming to Delhi after getting re-elected. The representatives from the CPI(M) Delhi state committee and mass organisations like CITU, JMS, DYFI, SFI, DSMM, Jansanskriti and AIDWA (centre) participated in the programme. Five persons from families affected by the communal violence in North-East Delhi also greeted Pinarayi Vijayan.

Rafale’s Ghost

IN Shakespeare’s famous play Macbeth, the feudal lord kills his friend Banquo to eliminate a possible rival, then kills the king and takes the throne. Troubled by his guilty conscience, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost which appears repeatedly to haunt him in public.

Protest Demonstration against Proposed Electricity Bill

NCCOEEE, the broad based platform of all National Federations of Electricity Employees and Engineers held a strong protest demonstration on July 19, 2021 in different parts of the country.These protests were held for two hours against the steps of the central government to transfer the state owned power utilities to private corporations through the enactment of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Proposed Population Control Legislation Violation of Human Rights

WOMEN'S groups and networks, health experts and concerned individuals from civil society, on July 19, have submitted a memorandum to the President of India, through an email, raising concerns and opposing the draft Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill, 2021.The draft bill has been developed by the State Law Commission.

Pegasus: Dangerous for Democracy

THE winged horse of the Greek fable Pegasus is haunting the Modi government once again. 17 news organisations including The Wire, Washington Post, The Guardian along with two NGO's – Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories – have spent months examining a possible list of 50,000 phone numbers from 45-50 countries. They have found out who could indeed be possible targets of cyber attacks in these countries. They then forensically examined the phones on the target list of some of the people who were willing to have their phones tested.

BJP Government Must Answer: Who Authorised Illegal Surveillance of Indians?

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on July 19, 2021VERY concerning information has emerged on the government of India procuring the Pegasus spyware from an Israeli firm, NSO, the worldwide leader in cyber surveillance. NSO has categorically clarified that it deals only with “vetted” governments. These investigations reveal a large number of journalists and human rights activists have been targeted for hacking their smart phones for surveillance. Globally more than 50,000 instances concentrated in countries known to engage in surveillance of

Odisha: Bandh for Six Hours a total Success

AS a follow up to the successful fortnight-long protest from June 16 to 30, demanding to rollback diesel, petrol price hike and to control the prices of all essential commodities, four left parties - CPI(M), CPI, CPI(M-L) Liberation and All India Forward Bloc gave a call for Odisha Bandh on July 15.

JHARKHAND: Dharna Demanding Judicial Probe Into Father Stan Swamy’s Death

AT the call of the Jharkhand United Platform of Left parties, social and mass organisations, NGOs, college students and concerned citizens, a march to Raj Bhavan was held in Ranchi on July 15, demanding a judicial probe into the death of Father Stan Swamy, and the release of all political prisoners.Hundreds joined the march including Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, and Party state leaders Prakash Biplav, Praful Linda, Suknath Lohra and other activists of the Left parties and mass organisations.The meeting was presided over by Dayamani Barla, noted activist and fighter for tribal r

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