2-Day National Workshop on Social Media Held in Delhi

A two-day national workshop on the effective use of social media by CPI(M) workers and volunteers for propagating our political ideas and movements was organised by the Party on September 5-6 in New Delhi. The primary purpose of the workshop was to make the participants equipped with different tools and techniques so that with its effective use, they can easily disseminate information about the Party’s campaigns and movements on the ground.

Patel Quota Agitation: Failure of Gujarat Model of Development

THE widespread agitation for reservation for the Patel community is a clear indication of the failure of the so-called Gujarat model of development. The stir was the outcome of lack of employment opportunities, agrarian crisis and low social development indicators in the state. As the Modi government’s promise of “acchhe din” turned out to be an illusion, frustrated and ambitious youths of the community turned their focus on ‘anamat’ (reservation) as the only solution to their problems of joblessness and lack of education opportunities.

Land Ordinance: The Obvious Answer is the Hidden Motive

ARUN Jaitley has taken it upon himself to come with a defence of the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance. He is clearly seeking to defend the indefensible. What he claims are the obvious answers actually seeks to camouflage the hidden intent and obvious motives with which the Narendra Modi-led BJP government brought the ordinance, not once but thrice in succession.

Movement for Special Session of Parliament on Dalit Issues

THE 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar is being celebrated throughout this year. The Modi-led NDA government, even as it garlands the statues of Ambedkar, is fully engaged in negating the ideals of Babasaheb. The conditions of SC, ST and BCs have worsened with the onset of no-liberal economic policies. They lag far behind in terms of human development indicators when compared with national averages. Problems faced by dalits are kept pending for many years. Dwelling places of dalits and tribals are still undeveloped.

Minorities & Structural Inequality In Neo-liberal India

THE data on the population of religious communities released by the Census of India has fuelled a vicious campaign by right wing intellectuals and the Sangh Parivar. Saffron demographers are quick to use the flawed newspaper analysis of Census 2011 in order to argue that if this trend continues then Muslims will not only catch-up with the Hindus in terms of their population growth rate, but in half a century the Hindus are likely to become a minority in their own country.

The Bankruptcy of Power Sector Reforms

THE CAG draft report on Delhi's Discoms describing the Rs 8,000 crore loot of consumers, follows on the heels of the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission's (OERC) order, cancelling the licenses of the three Anil Ambani Reliance distribution companies. OERC cancelled Reliance licenses in March, 2015 for failing to deliver on any count, and repeatedly violating its orders. With this, we have come a full circle on the electricity reforms introduced by the Electricity Act 2003, whose primary goal was to privatise the sector.

DTF Emerges Victorious in DUTA Elections

THE Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has secured a historic victory in the elections to the Delhi University Teachers' Association, held in the last week of August. DTF's Nandita Narain was re-elected to the post of the DUTA president for the second consecutive term. For DTF, this election marked the third consecutive win and mandate for the leadership of the DUTA. Besides Narain, the entire panel of four DTF candidates for the DUTA Executive Committee was also elected with a handsome vote-share.

MAHARASHTRA: BJP State Regime now Slaps Sedition Circular on Opponents

THE BJP chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis is trying to show that he is more loyal than his king, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His was the first BJP state regime to impose the beef ban and the third after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to pass legislation making reactionary changes in labour laws.Now the home ministry, which is under his direct charge, has released a most obnoxious circular on August 27, 2015, as regards Section 124A of the IPC (which deals with sedition).

Thinking Together

Q The common criticism about the Communists is that they have ignored the reality of caste in India and harp only on the class factor. How does the CPI(M) view the question of caste and what is its role in fighting caste oppression?

R Ramachandran, Coimbatore

Historic 2nd September Strike: Lessons and Task Ahead

THE historic 2nd September General Strike was participated by crores of workers, and established many milestones. Support extended by other class and mass organisations was worth noting. For the first time even unfriendly quarters had no escape but to admit the unprecedented impact of the strike all over the country – across all the regions and economic sectors. However, above all, the success of the strike in the strategic sectors like road transport, coal mines, petroleum, power, telecommunication, etc.

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