PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has visited 92 countries since 2014. In sharp contrast, Manmohan Singh, his predecessor at the PMO undertook only 93 foreign trips during his 10 years in office. The difference in number of diplomatic visits reflects the style and priorities of the two prime ministers. Manmohan Singh largely travelled to meet diplomatic commitments and obligations.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statements on January 8, 2019THE Supreme Court judgement reinstating the CBI Director Alok Verma shows how the Modi government has subverted and subordinated every single rule and norm in the functioning of institutions like the CBI, to suit its narrow political interests.The judgement is a strong indictment of the Modi government and specifically the prime minister himself as the Department of Personnel and Training under which the CBI functions, is in his charge.If the prime minister had a conscience, he should have r
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on January 8, 2019THE decision of the Union Cabinet to accord 10 percent reservation to the economically weaker sections among the general category is an electoral ploy. This decision comes a day before the current session of Parliament is scheduled to end with an eye on the forthcoming general elections.
THE magnificent country wide general strike on January 8-9, 2019 reflected the tide of people’s anger against the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national neoliberal policies pursued by the BJP led government at the centre.
THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a militant protest on January 4 on the road towards Parliament House against the purification rituals carried out by the priests after two women entered the Sabarimala temple. They also denounced the violence let loose by the RSS-BJP in Kerala on January 3. Women and students marched from Vithalbhai Patel House towards Parliament House, brushing aside all attempts by the police to stop them. They were finally stopped by barricades near Vijay Chowk.
SINCE the Narendra Modi government has assumed office, reason and science have come under continuous threat -- beginning with the prime minster himself suggesting that the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha could be a proof for the existence of plastic surgery during the Puranic ages. Similarly, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had observed that roadside tarot card readers with a caged parrot were far more superior than trained astronomers in anticipating future events.
THE two-day general strike called by the Central Trade Unions on January 8 and 9, 2019 will go down as an important landmark in the history of the working class movement in India.The strike saw the participation of around 20 million workers and employees belonging to all sectors – organized, unorganized and government.
ON the December 3, 2018, remains of cow-flesh were found in a field in Mahav village, Bulandhshahr district. There was an uproar by people alleging ‘cow slaughter’ and, in a short time, hundreds of men collected shouting slogans about ‘mother cow’ and ‘mother India’. Some people filled a trolley with the remains and drove it to the main road in front of the Chingraoti Chowki (police post) and blocked the road.
A CPI(M) delegation comprising of Brinda Karat and Subhashini Ali (PB members), Surinder Singh (member, state secretariat, CPIM) and Jagveer Bhatti (district committee member, CPIM) visited Naya Bas and Chindraoti villages in Siyana block, Bulandshahar on January 5.
THE massive mobilization and Rural Harthaal called by Kisan organisations in support of the 48 hours all India workers strike were successful in many parts of the country.