The Spectre of Austerity

A STUDY based on IMF data and IMF projections for 181 countries conducted at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University, New York, by Isabel Ortiz and Matthew Cummins, has some remarkable findings.

Channelise Political Churning Into Alternative Policy Trajectory

AS we go to press, the Janata Dal (United) government in Bihar led by Nitish Kumar has decisively won the vote of confidence by securing the support of more than 50 per cent of the strength of the Bihar state assembly. In response to the JD(U)’s withdrawal from the NDA over the question of BJP announcing the virtual projection of Narendra Modi as its future prime ministerial candidate, 91 BJP MLAs in the Bihar assembly walked out before voting. However, even if they were present and voted, it would not have changed the outcome.

Iran: Nuclear Talks Fail As West Remains Adamant

THE latest round of talks to resolve the long running dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme seem to have once again ended without making much progress. The talks, the second within a short span of time, had taken place in the salubrious climes of Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, in early April. The venue was carefully chosen, as Kazakhstan had positioned itself as an honest broker between the West and Iran.

Kaithal: Workers Protest Maruti Repression

THOUSANDS of workers and peasants staged a militant demonstration at Kaithal in Haryana May 29, in protest against the repression the state police has let loose on the struggling Maruti workers. The large protest demonstration was organised by the district unit of the CPI(M), against the police brutalities on dismissed Maruti workers and their family members on May 18 and 19 last.

CPI(M) Picketing Opposes Cash Transfer Scheme

MORE than 50,000 cadres of the CPI(M) courted arrest on May 24 while staging an agitation across Tamilnadu in opposition to the anti-people policies being pursued by the ruling UPA government. The agitation was in response to a call of the party’s Central Committee.

Protest actions were held in front of all the central government offices located at district headquarters across the state.

CPI(M) Holds Militant Demos to Press for People’s Rights

AS per the call given by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Goa state unit of the party organised four demonstrations before the offices of the subdivisional officers (SDOs) of Bicholim, Ponda, Quepem and Mormugao on May 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2013. the purpose was to highlight the party’s position on various political, social and economic issues affecting the life of the common citizens of India and Goa, as also to protest against the anti-people policies of the central government and the Goa government.

Terror Tactics in Howrah By-Poll

RULING Trinamul Congress has unleashed a spate of terror in Howrah ahead of parliamentary by-elections there. Elections will be held on June 2.

As the campaign picked up, TMC hooligan squads began to attack CPI(M) activists and sympathisers to obstruct political campaign. In many areas, TMC hoodlums are creating obstacles in the campaign of Left Front candidate Srideep Bhattacharya. TMC has unleashed hoodlums who are tearing banners, defacing wall writings. They are also moving house to house threatening Left Front workers and sympathizers, to create an atmosphere of fear.

Balakrishna Wants Son Back in Cabinet

ADDING to the worries of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and its state government, Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishnan Pillai demanded on May 27 re-induction of his son, K B Ganesh Kumar, into the ministry. Ganesh Kumar was forced to quit the ministry after the charges of domestic violence was brought against him two months back.

The Businessman’s Game

WITH the Mumbai Indians crowned champions at the final at Eden Gardens, the sixth season of IPL comes to an end. But as it was never free of controversies, this series too had its share of scandals; apart from the fact that this time the cricketing aspect was clearly overshadowed by one of the biggest sporting controversies in the history of the game. With the Lords Gate scandal still fresh in their memories, the average cricket lovers are stuck in a dilemma on whether to believe the scoreboard anymore or not.

“Give Your Fire Until The Last Of Your Days”

'ARE you curious to know', Eduardo Galeano seems to ask in his new book, Children of the Days, A Calendar of Human History. He is, of course, passionate to answer. Galeano quotes Albert Einstein, who was constantly watched by the US secret service agents for his closeness to the communists and whose brain is preserved for research for an explanation of his genius: “I have no special gift. I am only passionately curious”. Galeano is also passionately curious about human history, struggles and evolution.

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