Peoples Democracy newsletter

Peoples Democracy newsletter

Celebrating Champaran 1917

AT a moment when the ideals and events of our national movement seem to be fading from public memory, it is gratifying, indeed, that there should be celebrations in this country of the centenary of one of the most remarkable episodes of modern Indian history, the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917.Ever since Plessey (1757) British rule had meant a constant exploitation of India, the main burden of which had fallen on its peasants, artisans and the labouring poor.

WEST BENGAL: Left Demands Arrest of Indicted TMC Leaders

THE Central Bureau of Investigation finally filed a first information report (FIR) formally starting its probe against top Trinamool Congress leaders who were seen in a video footage “receiving illegal gratification”, or cash for unspecified favours.Narada news video footage, shot in 2014 but shown in 2016 showed how top TMC leaders, including ministers, members of parliament, mayor of Kolkata received money.The Calcutta High Court in a verdict delivered on March 17 ordered the CBI to investigate if people in “high public offices” were guilty of corruption.

Privatisation of Public Sector Banks With Manufactured Consent

THE government of India through its communication dated March 16, has instructed the public sector banks to arrive at a tripartite memorandum of understanding among the government of India, bank managements and the unions of employees & officers which according to it will help to turn around these banks.The government is hell bent to privatise the PSBs and is now contemplating, through this move, to transfer the burden of loss on the shoulders of the workforce who render yeoman service.  It is the grand design of the government of India, RBI and the managements of the banks to make the

Central Committee Communiqué

THE Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on April 18-19, 2017. It has issued the following statement on April 20, 2017  RSS-BJP RENEWED AGGRESSIVENESSFollowing the recent election victories, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the RSS-BJP have intensified their activities aimed at sharpening communal polarisation through various means.

Western Sahara: War Clouds Looming

THE war between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which represents the government of Western Sahara that ended in 1991, is now threatening to erupt again.  The Moroccan government which occupied a major chunk of the territory after the hasty withdrawal of the Spanish colonial power in 1974, has refused to honor its commitments to the international community and allow the holding of a United Nations supervised referendum. The former UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, had said last year that Morocco was in illegal “occupation” of the territory.

West Bengal Protests Attempts of Polarisation

SANGH Parivar’s attempts to sow seeds of polarisation in West Bengal have elicited reactions from various quarters. RSS-VHP-BJP combine chose Ramnavami and Hanuman Jayanti to create tensions and disturb the environment. In many areas, they carried swords in religious processions. Instead of taking immediate steps, TMC leaders and activists joined them.Left and progressive secular sections of the state have taken the challenge of resisting communal forces. Numerous rallies, processions have been organised throughout the state to condemn the provocation of Sangh Parivar.

Tripura Govt Will Protect 10323 Teachers Affected by SC Order

THE Supreme Court’s rejection of Special Leave Petitions against the judgement of the Tripura High Court which set aside the appointment of 10,323 school teachers without considering the far-reaching effect, disappointed large sections of people of Tripura including teachers and students. A division bench led by the then Tripura High Court Chief Justice Dipak Gupta (recently elevated to the Supreme Court) by its order dated May 7, 2014 quashed the appointment of 10,323 teachers which include 1,102 post-graduate teachers, 4,856 graduate teachers and 4,856 under-graduate teachers.

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

THE Rajya Sabha passed the four GST Bills -- The Central Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017, The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017, The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017 and The Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017. CPI(M) MPs moved several amendments and asked for division but was defeated. Speaking on this, Sitaram Yechury said the fundamental problem with the GST is that it concerns the federal structure of the Constitution. The government refused to heed our request and brought this as a Money Bill.

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