THE CPI(M) has expressed its total confidence that the BJP’s ongoing machinations for garnering narrow political gain in the upcoming assembly election in Tripura will be rejected by a massive mandate for the Party. CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar at a press conference in Agartala on January 6 reacted to the recent parleys between top BJP leaders and those of IPFT(NC), which is an open political wing of the outlawed extremist outfit NLFT.

IN the concluding week of Winter Session of Parliament, Md. Salim raised the issue of mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks while taking part in a discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants in Lok Sabha. No one can deny the fact that money needs to be pumped into the banks because there are capital adequacy norms. But the question is why the NPAs have risen after the NDA government assumed office. The government maintains that the corporate profitability is on upswing. Then why the recoveries are not being made?

THE 22nd Rajasthan state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was held between December 24-26, 2017 at Comrade Hariram Chouhan Nagar, Jhunjhunu. Held in the backdrop of a successful statewide farmer’s agitation as well as growing militancy among workers and students under the red flag, the 22nd state conference mirrored the energy and excitement of the recent struggles. The conference was held at the Shekhawati province of Jhunjhunu district for the first time, on account of the region’s growing participation in farmers- led mass struggles.

THE launch of “America First” National Security Strategy (NSS) is last hurrah for the American Empire. The day on which the NSS was announced, America was trounced in the United Nations Security Council that overwhelmingly voted against Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Irrespective of the denial by the Indian foreign policy establishment, the fact is that the American power, in the international arena, has eroded considerably. The American confidence in their system has plummeted, especially after the 2008 financial crisis.

A DELEGATION from the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) met the minister of minority affairs, Mukthar Abbas Naqvi on January 5.They submitted a memorandum seeking the removal of certain provisions contained in the guidelines issued by the Haj Committee of India that virtually bar persons with disabilities from undertaking the Haj pilgrimage.The minister assured that he would issue an advisory to the Haj Committee of India to review the guidelines and “bring it in conformity” with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.