NPRD Opposes the term ‘Divyaang’ for the Disabled

THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2016, noted that on December 27, 2015 during the course of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the prime minister had referred to persons with disabilities thus: “Those in whom Paramatma has created a deficiency in the body, those for whom some part of the body does not work properly, we call them ‘viklaang’…….……..‘Why don’t we, in our country, replace the word ‘viklaang’ with the word ‘divyaang’?’ These are those people who possess divinity – divyata – in one or more parts of th

CITU Denounces Govt Decision to Exempt Start-Up Companies from Labour Laws

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions in a statement issued on January 27 has denounced the brazen anti-worker designs of the government of India to grant virtual exemption to the start-up companies, including five year old registered establishments with an annual turnover of not more than Rs 25 crore, from the obligations under nine basic labour laws. It has done this on the plea of “handholding and nurturing” the so-called start-up companies, announced by the prime minister only recently.

Thinking Together

Q. What was the role of the Portuguese Communist Party in the formation of a new government after the elections to the National Assembly? S Prasanth, Chennai ELECTIONS to the national assembly of Portugal were held on October 4, 2015, which threw a fractured mandate. The ruling right-wing coalition of the conservatives consisting of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Peoples' Party (PP) lost 12 percent of the vote and the majority they had enjoyed in the assembly.

Kerala Accords Grand Welcome to Ghulam Ali

BRUSHING aside repeated threats from the Right-wing Hindutva forces, the people of Kerala wholeheartedly welcomed Gazal maestro Ghulam Ali to the state. The Pakistani singer held a concert in the state capital on January 15 and in Calicut on January 15.The programmes were organised by Swaralaya, a socio-cultural organisation. DYFI activists gathered at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to extend a warm welcome to the renowned singer. Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M A Baby and city mayor V K Prasanth received Ghulam Ali at the airport.

Bar Bribery Scam: Kerala Excise Minister Resigns

IN a major blow to the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala just a few months ahead of assembly polls, excise and port minister K Babu was forced to tender his resignation in connection with the bar bribery scam.

Solar Scam: Chief Minister Chandy Deposes Before Inquiry Commission

OOMMEN Chandy has become the first chief minister in the history of Kerala to depose before a judicial commission in connection with a scam.

Left will Rebuild Bengal

SIX day Singur-Salboni march ended with a call for rebuilding West Bengal, after dislodging the TMC regime. The march, with participation of tens of thousands, culminated in a huge rally in Salboni in West Midnapore district. People, mainly from terror-stricken Jungle Mahal areas attended the rally.Addressing the rally, Surjyakanta Misra categorically declared that the Left Front, if elected to power, would revitalise the industrialisation process in the state. Misra said that industrialisation will be done on the basis of revitalisation of agriculture.

TAMIL NADU: Peoples' Welfare Alliance Holds Massive rally

“A CLEAN government of Peoples’ Welfare Alliance (Makkal Nala Kootani) will be formed based on alternative policies after the assembly elections; that is the future of Tamil Nadu”. Declaring this at a massive rally in the historic city of Madurai, Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the CPI(M), gave a clarion call for an alternative government to the “corrupt” AIADMK and DMK.

Moral Authority Lost

THERE are times when a single incident can shatter the moral authority of a government. The death of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the Hyderabad Central University (HCU), who was driven to commit suicide is one such.

DSMM & Other Dalit Groups Demand Justice for Rohith Vemula

THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch and other dalits organisation and individuals have given a call for candle light procession and other action programmes all over the country on January 24 protesting against the death of a Ph.D. scholar Rohith Vemula of Hyderabad Central University. They have demanded the immediate removal of the suspension on the remaining four students and allowing them to continue in their hostels as usual, immediate removal of Prof P Appa Rao as vice chancellor, resignation of the two union ministers and a comprehensive compensation to the deceased family.

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