THE relaxation of restrictions from May 4 onwards, even as the national lockdown continues till May 17, as was widely anticipated, led to a record peaking of the Covid positive cases and consequent deaths. On May 5, India recorded 3875 new cases in a single day spike, 2.5 times higher than the daily average increase over the past week. The highest number of deaths recorded are between May 4/5 - 194.
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.
WHILE Tripura is under a lockdown to combat the coronavirus, some parts of the northeastern state were devastated by gale and unprecedented hailstorm. One of the worst affected areas was Jampaijala sub-division of Sepahijala district. This sub-division is largely tribal populated and its headquarters is 50 km from the state capital, Agartala.Before the last assembly election, the normal atmosphere of peace and democracy was disturbed by anti-Left forces active there amongst the tribals.
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.
SOON AFTER the lockdown was declared on March 24, here in Delhi we were informed by the West Bengal state leadership of the CPI(M) that a large number of migrant workerswere making distress calls to their contacts in the Partyback home and seeking help. In consultation with comrades in West Bengal, it was decided that contacts of our trade union leaders in Delhi would be passed onto the workers in distress.
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 25THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) welcomes any legal protection so necessary for our health workers in the fight against the pandemic.However, the ordinance issued by the president of India has certain serious flaws. Section 3 (c) and 3 (d) together violate the principle of common law accepted and followed by all countries in the world including the criminal law jurisprudence in India on the vital issue of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
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.
PUNNAPRA and Vayalar are two villages in the district of Alleppey (Alappuzha). The struggle of Punnapra and Vayalar was the resistance movement of peasants and agricultural labourers against the medieval oppression by landlords; coir industry workers against their employers, and for a responsible government, as against autocratic rule of the dewan of Travancore.
ON this Day of International Working Class Solidarity, May Day 2020,In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – one of the worst tragedies that struck humanity in a century,Leading to an impending economic crisis predicted to be the worst since the Second World War,CITUExpresses its heartfelt gratitude and class pride at the invaluable services being rendered by –All the front line health workers, the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, the sanitation workers and all other workers across the globe, risking their lives to safeguard the lives of othersExtends solidarit