A PUBLIC convention was held against the growing attacks on the democratic rights of citizens, against the repeal of black laws like UAPA, for the release of political prisoners and against the loot of natural resources like water, forests, land and minerals.

THE Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) last week filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court conveying that it has now given the go-ahead for seven controversial hydro-electric projects in the Upper Ganga region of Uttarakhand.  These projects include the 512 MW Tapovan-Vishnugarh hydro-electric project on the Dhauliganga which was almost completely destroyed in the massive floods of February 2021, killing more than 200 people including  over 150 workers and others whose bodies are probably still interred in the ruins of the project which is now proposed to be re-bui

THOUSANDS of people participated in the 10-kilometre human chain along the National Highway-16 from Aganampudi to Akkireddypalem in Visakhapatnam on August 29 to protest Modi government’s move of strategic sale of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. In response to the call given by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee, which is spearheading the agitation, hundreds of Steel plant workers, displaced persons and their family members, and the general public joined hands to form the human chain.The participants held placards and stood on one side of the highway from 8 am to 10 am.

THE anti-colonial nationalism that informed the struggle for liberation in third world countries was, as is well-known, of an entirely different genre from the bourgeois nationalism that had emerged in Europe in the seventeenth century. There is a tendency in the West, including even among progressives,   to treat all “nationalism” as a homogeneous and reactionary category.

THE transition from the old model towns built during the late 60s and the new townships developed during the late 90s and still continuing is very stark. There are many changes, one of the noteworthy transformations happens to be the housing sector. Take for example the Nangal township in Punjab, which was developed during the 60s. This township had three major units Bhakra Beas Management Board, National Fertilizers Limited and Punjab Alkalis and Chemicals Limited.