Peoples Democracy newsletter

Peoples Democracy newsletter

India’s GDP Growth in the Recent Period

THE “Gross Domestic Product” is a concept rooted in an epistemic position which is intrinsically incapable of recognising the existence of a “surplus” in society. A simple example will make this clear. Suppose we have an agrarian economy in which 100 peasants produce 100 units of food; and suppose 50 of these are taken by an overlord through taxes, for consumption by his family and hangers-on. These 50 units will be readily recognised as constituting a “surplus” out of the total output of 100. But the concept of GDP would not recognise this.

ILO Joins Hands with Modi Govt to Reduce Minimum Wage of Workers

IN the ongoing world economic crisis situation, there is a rightward political shift worldwide. This is resulting in the pursuit of an aggressive neoliberal economic agenda in favour of the corporates and against all sections of the working people. It is leading to cuts in wages, social security, subsidies, employment, rights, and increase in taxation -- as designed by the international finance capital -- combined with a country-specific divisive agenda.

HATE, THREAT & VIOLENCE: In ‘New India’, Mediapersons, Youths Arrested for Social Media Posts Critical of BJP Leaders

IN the first two weeks of June, about a dozen young men and journalists have been arrested across the country, primarily for social media posts critical of BJP chief ministers and leaders. After the Narendra Modi government assumed office for a second term, such news started trickling in from various parts of the country, particularly states ruled by the BJP.The Uttar Pradesh government, led by the BJP, led the effort to threaten and intimidate, thereby silence critical voices.

Death Stalks Bihar, Exposes Hollowness of NDA Govt’s Inclusive Growth Claim

When sorrows come, they come not single spies,But in battalions - William Shakespeare (Hamlet) BIHAR is in mourning. It has lost more than a hundred children in the age group of 1 to 12 years to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Sitamarhi and some other adjoining districts. Heat stroke has also devoured the lives of another hundred people in southern part of the state, particularly Aurangabad, Gaya and Nawada.The recurrence of tragedies of such magnitude never disturbs the ruling dispensation of Bihar.

Cyber Bombs, the Russian Grid and the Threat of War

THE New York Times recent report that the US Cyber Command has planted “malware” – read cyber bombs – deep into the Russian grid, should worry not just the Russian people, but all of us.  Taking down a country’s grid leads to blackouts, and disrupts a country’s vital infrastructure: communication networks such as metros, railways, airports, hospitals, telecommunications including cell phones; it can lead to failure of hydroelectric plants and dams causing devastating floods, nuclear plants outages and possible meltdown.

Warmongering on Iran

THE threats to Iran are being ramped up by the United States. Some sections of the Trump administration are beating the war drums and the threat of military hostilities against Iran is being ratcheted up.The attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on June 13 has become another pretext for targeting Iran. The Trump administration has been quick to hold Iran responsible for the attack.

Tamil Nadu: ‘Rice Bowl’ under Attack: Kisan Sabha Leads Protest

THE Cauvery Delta districts of Tamil Nadu are considered as the “rice bowl” of the region. The rich soil of this area is known for its three-crop cycle a year producing many a variety of rice, the most famous being Samba Rice. Such a fertile delta land area is being turned into a desert, by allowing capitalist forces to extract hydro-carbon from this rich soil.  In 2016, the central government introduced a new policy of extraction of hydro-carbon materials from the early findings of such reserve across the country.

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