SFI Condemns RSS Attack on its Leader in Rajasthan

THE Central Executive Committee of the Students’ Federation of India, in a statement issued on January 2, 2016 has strongly condemned the attack on Ramkrishna Chhimpa, district president of the SFI in Churu, Rajasthan by the RSS goons in the midnight on January 3. Around 50 hooligans belonging to the saffron brigade entered into the Kisan Mazdoor Bhavan at Sardar Shahar where Ramkrishna Chhimpa was sleeping and brutally beat him for being actively involved in the SFI activities.

Land of Many Historic Struggles, Sikar to Host 15th All India Conference of SFI

SIKAR, a city whose art, architecture and culture bear the mark of a rich history of confluence and diversity, will host the 15th All India Conference of SFI from January 22 to 25. The rich legacy of spirited peasant agitations makes the choice of the city even more appropriate, as in a historic first, the All India Conference of SFI is taking place in the Northwest India. The conference is taking place at a time when the whole nation is witnessing an assault on the very idea of India as a secular and democratic republic.

Voices against Intolerance

WHAT do you do on an evening of dissent? You dance, you draw, you perform and yes, you sing. For as the vibrant banners, strung at the annual SAHMAT cultural event, reminded us of Bertolt Brecht’s iconic words, “Yes, there will be singing about the dark times.” But you also speak.

JANAM Commemorates Safdar Hashmi’s Life & Works

JANUARY 1, 2016 marked the 27th year of commemorating Safdar Hashmi’s life and works at the site of his attack, and subsequent death from injuries sustained, in Jhandapur by the CITU and the Jana Natya Manch (Janam). The interrupted Halla Bol show finished on January 4 that year, is marked with a new production by Janam each year, along with a roster of revolutionary songs and speeches. This year too the programme, with Badal Saroj as the chief guest, was a careful selection of acts in solidarity with the workers’ movement, with one major exception.

The Deepening Of Autocratic Governance

TWO BJP governments in Rajasthan and Haryana have amended their Panchayati Raj laws to expand the list of disqualifications with regard to who can stand for panchayat elections. These laws lay down the basic minimum educational criteria, two child norm and several other bizarre conditions for a candidate to be eligible for standing for elections. The changes within the Haryana law have been opposed by democratic women’s organisations and the AIDWA even challenged it in the Court.

The Trojan Horse of Free Basics

FACEBOOK is running a high profile, misleading campaign, using full page advertisements, blocks of TV time, hoardings, and Facebook itself. This campaign, estimated to cost more than Rs 400 crore, is promoting Facebook's private, proprietary platform called “Free Basics” and calling its opponents as anti-poor. In India, Facebook has tied up with Reliance Telecommunications for offering this platform.

The Abolition of the NDC

THE Narendra Modi government is winding up the National Development Council, an apex body consisting of the prime minister, the concerned central cabinet ministers, and all state chief ministers together with their concerned cabinet colleagues, which supervised the planning process in the country, gave final approval to the various five-year plans, and met periodically to take stock of issues and policy measures relating to economic development.

Thinking Together

The 21st Congress Political-Tactical Line underlined the fact that the "CPI(M) must adopt flexible tactics to meet swift changes in the political situation". Could you elaborate on this?
N. S. Goswami I-1756 C R Park New Delhi

Assam’s First State-Level Convention of Jute Cultivators Held

ON the initiative of the Assam State Kisan Sabha, the first ever state-level convention of jute cultivators was held in Kolgachia of Barpeta on December 13-14, 2015. The convention began with an open rally on December 13, which was attended by around three thousand people including a large number of jute cultivators. The greater Kolgachia area was once a flourishing place for jute cultivation as the landmass is conducive for the crop. However, the cultivators are not getting remunerative prices any more and many of them have switched over to other crops.

Intensify Fight against Social Evils Sankaraiah tells youth

He is now 94.
It was the same thunder. The entire audience cheered and clapped each and every word of him.
They all were youth, nearly 25,000. They gathered in the city of Dindigul. It was a huge rally of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) as a grand starting of the 15th state conference of the organisation's Tamil Nadu unit, on the last evening of 2015.
The leader was N Sankaraiah, veteran leader of CPI(M), of the Indian Communist movement and a freedom fighter.

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