THE historic juncture in which the 16th all India conference of CITU began on January 23 in Chennai, was ringing loud and clear. In the backdrop of breathless mounting of attacks on the lives and livelihood of the toiling people and on their hard-won rights for collective bargaining on the one hand, and on the other, the building resistance all across the country to fight back these attacks, specially the magnificent All India General Strike held just two weeks back – the challenges before the conference are clear and grave.

A JOINT convention by employees of central and state government, railways and teachers was held in Mumbai on December 24, 2019 demanding the scrapping of NPS(new pension scheme) and restoration of the OPS(old pension scheme).The convention was attended by members of the Western Railway Employees Union, National Railway Mazdoor Union, organisation of teachers and state government employees and other central government employees organisation’s affiliated to confederation of central government employees and workers, like postal, income tax etc.

FOR 81 seats of the state assembly, elections were held from November 30 to December 20 and counting was done of December 23, 2019.In a meeting of all the political parties convened by the Election Commission of India, all the opposition parties including the Left parties demanded that the elections be held on one day. But the election commission decided to hold the election in five phases, took no steps to stop flow of illegal money, neither restricted pro-BJP officials who were openly campaigning.

THE public remarks made by some leaders of the armed forces are a departure from the strictly professional and non-political role of the armed forces.  This is happening because the Modi government seems to be consciously encouraging the top echelons of the defence forces to air views in line with its Hindutva nationalist outlook. General Bipin Rawat, days before assuming the post of chief of defence staff, made a provocative statement regarding the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

THE 16th conference of CITU is scheduled to be held in Chennai from January 23-27, 2020. With only a few days left, final touches are being given to the preparations for the conference. Chennai is hosting the all India conference for the third time.The fourth all India conference of CITU was held in Madras in April 1979. At that time, with more than 5000 delegates, it was a Himalayan task for CITU and its fraternal organisations in Tamil Nadu to host the conference, which was successfully carried out.The second opportunity was in 2003, to host the 11th conference.