All Power to Soviets – May 1917

THERE were many incidents and mass protests that were happening in the months of April and May 1917, which had accentuated the crisis of power in Russia. Minister Guchkov, head of the Octoberists was forced to resign. The growing discontent among the people increasingly made it clear that ‘dual power’ was no longer tenable. The capitalists wanted to capture State power, all for themselves, depriving the Soviets of any ‘control’. On the other hand, there were Mensheviks and Narodniks, who wanted to join the provincial government and get some ministerial portfolios.

MNCs and Third World States

DR Timothy Wise, a well-known expert on agriculture based in the US, tells an instructive story about Monsanto and Malawi, a country currently in the process of finalising its seed policy. In Malawi, as in most other third world countries, peasants have traditionally stored their seeds from the previous harvest for their next planting, and have met and exchanged seeds among themselves in local seed-fairs.

Massive Protest in West Bengal: District Headquarters Seized for Hours despite Police Attack

THOUSANDS of people joined in massive protest demonstrations at district headquarters in West Bengal on September 11, at the call of the Left Front. The protest took a militant turn and the protestors battled with police in many districts. The demands of the protest included remunerative price for the peasants, digital ration cards for all, equal pay for equal work, opening of closed factories etc.

Kulgam Moving Ahead despite Odds

THE CPI(M) has been staunchly defending the people’s rights in Kashmir Valley -- combating the designs of secessionist elements and fighting the police and military excesses. Though a small political player in Jammu and Kashmir, with just one MLA, the party has suffered immensely at the hand of terrorists. Nearly 50 comrades have lost their lives, but not one from the BJP, the party that sings the rhetoric of nationalism.

Landslide Victory of United Left Panel in JNUSU Elections

THE students of Jawaharlal Nehru University gave a decisive mandate to the United Left Panel of SFI-AISA-DSF in the recently concluded student union elections. This victory comes after a year of relentless struggles by the outgoing union led by SFI and AISA. The ABVP finished a distant second on all the four posts. The ABVP couldn’t even manage to win a single councilor post on its own. The United Left (AISA-SFI-DSF) won all four central panel seats and 13 councilor posts across SSS, SIS and SLL and CS.

Historic Struggle of Farmers in Rajasthan

THE peasantry in Rajasthan under the Kisan Sabha banner have won a significant victory after their resolute struggle lasting 13 days. Since September 1, lakhs of farmers gheraoed the different district headquarters on the call of Rajasthan Kisan Sabha for a Mahapadav (sit-in). For three days there was also rasta roko (road blockade) across the state bringing about 20 districts to a standstill. Only ambulances and essential services functioned. The peasant movement received unprecedented support from all sections of the society making it a truly people's movement.

Make ‘Delhi Chalo’ Programme from Nov 9-11 a Grand Success: CWFI

THE Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI) has given a call to make the November 9-11‘Delhi Chalo’ programme of central trade unions and federations a grand success and ensure maximum participation of construction workers in it.

GUJARAT: Condolence Meeting for Comrade Subodh Mehta

COMRADE Subodh Mehta, veteran leader of CITU and CPI(M) Gujarat committee, passed away on September 1, at Bhavnagar at the age of 90 Years. He was the icon of various movements in Gujarat. He fought many battles for the people of Gujarat. During Maha Gujarat movement, he had played an important role with Lt. Shri Indulal Yagnik. On September 2, his body was kept at the CITU office in Bhavnagar. Thousands of people paid tributes to Subodh Mehta. Shaktisinh Gohel, national leader of Congress also visited the place.

TAMIL NADU: Caste as the Menace

ON August 29, at 10 pm, K Swaminathan, vice-president, SZIEF (AIIEA) called and asked me to free myself the next day to visit Nallur village near Thirukazhukundram. Imparting the immediate necessity and urgency, he informed that the entire village was attacked by casteist forces when Vinayaka Chathurthi was celebrated by the dalits in that village. Accordingly, Uma Maheswari, Abinava Vidyatheerthan and myself (General Insurance, AIIEA) accompanied him to Nallur village.

Expulsion from Party

RITABRATA Banerjee, member of the West Bengal state committee of the Party, who was earlier facing disciplinary action, has been summarily expelled for grave anti-Party activities. This decision was taken unanimously by the West Bengal state secretariat, at its meeting held on September 13, 2017, under Article 19 (13) of the Constitution.

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