THERE is much discussion these days on whether to introduce booster shots in India, both generally in response to the Covid pandemic and in the specific context of the Omicron variant of the virus. So far, recommendations for boosters by many experts are being made based on very thin evidence about effectiveness of boosters for protection against infection or transmission and, importantly, against serious disease, hospitalisation and death, which are the primary objectives of vaccination programmes.

THE All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF) had organised national conventions of workers in state transport undertakings (STUs) and in private transport separately on December 9th and 10th in Delhi. The conventions discussed the conditions in STUs and the entire transport sector. Both the conventions unanimously demanded the central government to negotiate with the trade unions and adopt suitable policy decisions to save the industry and to resolve the issues faced by the workers.

THE spinning mills announced a price rise of Rs 50 per kg for cotton hosiery yarn on November 1, 2021, in Tirupur an industrial city of Tamil Nadu. There are more than 4,000 units functioning, in which employment to nearly four lakh people is provided directly. This region is also producing cotton knitted innerwear and garments for the domestic market worth Rs 20,000 crore per year and garments for export - Rs 27,000 crore.

THE winter session of parliament began on November 29 and the first day was marked with the undemocratic suspension of 12 MPs including Elamaram Kareem from the CPI(M) Rajya Sabha for the entire winter session. The opposition staged a walkout from both the houses in protest and the suspended members have vowed to protest in front of the parliament house till the end of the session. Both the houses witnessed disruptions over the issue.

THE ruling BJP and its allies are trying to undermine the very democratic system of our nation by taking away the rights of parliamentarians. The last monsoon session saw some of the most humiliating days for our democracy. The ongoing winter session is witnessing an even worse phase. Listening to the opposition is unavoidable in democracy. But the BJP is trying how not to answer the questions posed by the opposition, and how to silence the MPs asking questions.