Speaking to reporters after the bill was passed on 18th February, the CPI(M) leader pointed out that the creation of separate state of Telangana has raised immense hopes among the people of that region while at the same time creating many apprehensions among people of Seemandhra region. The very same ruling classes that have failed to comprehensively develop the united state are set to rule in both the states. They would be implementing the same neo-liberal, World Bank-dictated policies. These policies will create new inequalities in both the states. People’s problems will not be solved.

THE OPPOSITION in Venezuela is once again back to its old game – organising violent clashes, creating chaos and thus preparing the atmosphere to destabilise the government. They are desperately trying to create a situation akin to 2002, where they could stage a coup against the Chavez government, however short-lived it may have been. Now that Chavez is no more, they dream that such a coup has more chances to succeed.

THE Food Security Act 2013 has made provision of the midday meal in the school the right of every child upto class VIII or within the age group of fourteen years in the country. But the government mechanism to implement the law, India’s prestigious flagship programme ‘National Programme for Mid Day meals in Schools’, popularly known as the Mid Day Meal Scheme, is still in its primary stage with constraints of financial allocation, lack of infrastructure, inadequate monitoring and managing system and poorly paid workers.

IT used to be said of the Bourbon kings of France, whom the French Revolution overthrew, that “they learned nothing and they forgot nothing”. These words could well describe the UPA government; and Chidambaram’s budget speech gave ample proof of it.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on February 15.

THE Aam Admi Party government in Delhi was committed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill. This would have been an important measure to fight corruption in public life in Delhi. However, the manner in which this was introduced in the Legislative Assembly was politically erroneous and inexpedient.