HATE, THREAT & VIOLENCE: In ‘New India’, Mediapersons, Youths Arrested for Social Media Posts Critical of BJP Leaders

IN the first two weeks of June, about a dozen young men and journalists have been arrested across the country, primarily for social media posts critical of BJP chief ministers and leaders. After the Narendra Modi government assumed office for a second term, such news started trickling in from various parts of the country, particularly states ruled by the BJP.The Uttar Pradesh government, led by the BJP, led the effort to threaten and intimidate, thereby silence critical voices.

Death Stalks Bihar, Exposes Hollowness of NDA Govt’s Inclusive Growth Claim

When sorrows come, they come not single spies,But in battalions - William Shakespeare (Hamlet) BIHAR is in mourning. It has lost more than a hundred children in the age group of 1 to 12 years to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Sitamarhi and some other adjoining districts. Heat stroke has also devoured the lives of another hundred people in southern part of the state, particularly Aurangabad, Gaya and Nawada.The recurrence of tragedies of such magnitude never disturbs the ruling dispensation of Bihar.

Cyber Bombs, the Russian Grid and the Threat of War

THE New York Times recent report that the US Cyber Command has planted “malware” – read cyber bombs – deep into the Russian grid, should worry not just the Russian people, but all of us. Taking down a country’s grid leads to blackouts, and disrupts a country’s vital infrastructure: communication networks such as metros, railways, airports, hospitals, telecommunications including cell phones; it can lead to failure of hydroelectric plants and dams causing devastating floods, nuclear plants outages and possible meltdown.

CITU Opposes Govt’s Move to Reduce ESI Contribution

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) denounces the decision of the government of India to reduce rates of contribution to Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESI).

AIDWA Pays Respects to Mangaleshwari Debbarma

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) held a condolence meeting in the Muktdhara Auditorium on June 13 in Agartala to pay homage to the memory of Mangaleshwari Debbarma who passed away on June 5, 2019 at the age of 93.

Warmongering on Iran

THE threats to Iran are being ramped up by the United States. Some sections of the Trump administration are beating the war drums and the threat of military hostilities against Iran is being ratcheted up.The attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on June 13 has become another pretext for targeting Iran. The Trump administration has been quick to hold Iran responsible for the attack.

Tamil Nadu: ‘Rice Bowl’ under Attack: Kisan Sabha Leads Protest

THE Cauvery Delta districts of Tamil Nadu are considered as the “rice bowl” of the region. The rich soil of this area is known for its three-crop cycle a year producing many a variety of rice, the most famous being Samba Rice. Such a fertile delta land area is being turned into a desert, by allowing capitalist forces to extract hydro-carbon from this rich soil. In 2016, the central government introduced a new policy of extraction of hydro-carbon materials from the early findings of such reserve across the country.

The Dramatic Increase in the Unemployment Rate

THE report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted in 2017-18 is finally out, and it confirms what had been leaked earlier, namely a dramatic increase in the unemployment rate in the Indian economy. The unemployment rate is given under two heads: usual status unemployment and current weekly status unemployment.

Local Body Elections in Telangana

IN Telangana state local elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) and Zila Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) were held in three phases, from May 6 -14. Results were announced on June 4. Out of a total 5,817 MPTCs, TRS gained 3545, Congress 1,392, BJP 210, CPI(M) 50, CPI 40, TDP 22 and others 562. The president posts of MPP were overwhelmingly cornered by the party in power i.e., TRS. Out of total posts TRS gained 79 per cent, Congress 11 per cent, BJP 1.49 per cent.

Global Capital, Digital Monopolies and New Forms of Enclosure

THE beginning of the digital monopoly age, the age in which the digital monopolies start emerging and the neoliberal economic model has been roughly coterminous. Both come of age in the 90s. While the neoliberal economic model seems to be in a crisis, the digital monopolies show no sign of flagging. On the contrary, along with the continued expansion of older players, we are witnessing the rise of many new ones.

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