Nationwide Protests by Workers, Farmers Demanding Jobs, Healthcare

SEVERAL thousands of workers, peasants and agricultural workers staged protest demonstrations at the block level on July 23, demanding ration, jobs/unemployment allowances and healthcare facilities.

Modalities for Holding Bihar Elections

ON July 29, Nilotpal Basu, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), had written a letter to the Election Commission of India expressing CPI(M)’s views in response to their letter dated July 17, 2020 seeking opinions on the modalities to be followed for holding elections to Bihar assembly.“Taking into account the conditions imposed by the pandemic and the safety requirements, according the highest priority to the safety of people’s lives, we want the Election Commission to ensure conditions that permit elections to be held on the basis of physical participation of the voters and the political parties.

People of Jammu & Kashmir Humiliated

THE people of Jammu and Kashmir had opted to become part of secular India rather than the Muslim Pakistan not simply by virtue of the Instrument of Accession which is the legal basis of the association, but more importantly because of those promises of building a pluralist, secular India in which the people of J&K were to have a very special status and maximum autonomy. Those promises were contained in Article 370 of the Indian constitution and in the constitution of J&K itself.

Income Decline before the Pandemic

THE pandemic and the lockdown are certainly causing an absolute shrinkage in the gross domestic product of the Indian economy. But these tend to obscure something very serious that was happening even earlier, namely a real income decline for vast numbers of working people.There are several pointers to this fact. The rate of chronic unemployment in 2018-19 was the highest ever in the last 45 years at 6 per cent compared to the usual 2 to 3 per cent.

Transport Industry on the Verge of Collapse, Unions Tell Minister

THE All India Co-ordination Committee of Road Transport Workers Organisations (AICCORTWO) has called for a protest day on August 5, in a move to draw attention to the severe crisis that is pushing the transport industry to collapse during the Covid-19 pandemic despite the workers being on duty braving dire conditions. K K Divakaran, convenor of AICCORTWO, has written to the union transport minister, Nitin Gadkari to bring to his notice the serious issues faced by transport workers in the country.

Trump is Exploiting Race & China for Re-election

WITH the American presidential election just a few months away, Donald Trump is down in the polls. People’s trust or approval of Trump’s handling of the pandemic is at an all-time low.

All India Protest Week from Aug 20-26

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met online, for the first time, on July 25-26, 2020.

Brinda Karat Files Complaint against Cop for Communal Tweets

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Brinda Karat has lodged a police complaint against Nageswar Rao, an IPS officer who is Director General of Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence under union home ministry, for his tweets inciting communal hatred. She has written to union home minister Amit Shah on July 28, regarding the same and urged him to ensure the prosecution of the officer according to the law of the land.

AP: Campaign against Privatisation of Railways

PROTEST actions were conducted in Andhra Pradesh opposing the privatisation of Indian Railways. The protests were organised by CPI(M), CITU at some places and various unions of railway workers and employees at different levels. Protest demonstrations at some railway stations, holding placards and shouting slogans against government’s decision of privatisation and demanding a roll back, were held. Covid protocols were observed in these protests.Prajasakti Telugu daily published an eight page tabloid special supplement on railways.

Wider Message of Kashmir

AUGUST 5 marks the completion of a year since the infamous steps were taken in parliament to nullify Article 370 of the constitution that provided for special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir and the damaging legislation which dismembered the state and created two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. At one stroke, the Hindutva rulers reneged on the promise made to the people of Kashmir at the time of the accession that J&K will be accorded autonomy, resulting in the special status provided in the constitution.

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