JHARKHAND: Corona Crisis: The Poor Most Adversely Affected

IN Jharkhand, with the confirmation of the death of two people from coronavirus and increasing number of corona positive patients, an atmosphere of panic is prevailing in the state. After Ranchi and Bokaro, new cases are surfacing in Hazaribagh and Giridih, increasing the total number of corona-infected people to 19 in the state.

Don’t Handicap the States

THE fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in India requires a big effort by the states as they have to bear the main expenditure and mobilise the human resources to combat the disease and its economic and social effects. The states have had to scale up health-care facilities, provide free foodgrains and essential supplies and give income support to working people and other sections of society as the lockdown enters its fourth week.But all the state governments are handicapped in this battle as they face severe shortage of funds.

Trade Unions Oppose Move to Amend Factories Act to Enhance Working Hours

CENTRAL trade unions have opposed any move by the government to amend the Factories Act to enhance the weekly working hours to 72 in the guise of "exceptional circumstances” posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

Ruling Party Continues to Push Sectarian Agenda

EVEN as the people of India face terrible hardships, suffering and distress during the lockdown and yet continue to observe instructions given by governments, the central government and the ruling party continue to push a sectarian agenda. The highly irresponsible behavior of the Tablighi Jamaat became the pretext for the sangh warriors to unleash a vicious campaign against Muslims in general. This led to several direct attacks on Muslims, including some reprehensible attacks on street vendors even in the capital.

AP: Extensive Relief Operations in AP during Lockdown

EVEN though the first Covid-19 case in India was detected on January 30, the government of India failed to take proper steps to combat it until March. The nationwide lockdown call given by prime minister Narendra Modi leaving only four hours of preparation time, had become a cause of misery for millions of Indians across the country. The Andhra Pradesh state government didn’t pay attention to the Covid-19 warning till the local body elections were postponed.In this background, the unorganised workers, migrant labour and the poor people were left in lurch.

Govt Must Adopt a Navapadi for Itself To Implement On a War Footing

THE people were looking forward to the prime minister’s address to the nation on the last day of the three-week countrywide lockdown. These three weeks have thrown up many experiences that need to be addressed urgently in order, both, to strengthen our fight against the Covid 19 pandemic and to protect the lives and survival of crores of our fellow citizens. On none of these issues of vital importance did the prime minister have anything substantial to say.

Safety of Our People Must be the Main Concern

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 7TRUMP’s threat of retaliation for easing restrictions on the export of vital generic drugs including Hydroxychloroquine is a plain attempt at arm twisting. The government’s capitulation to this brazen blackmail undermines the vital concerns in our battle against the viral pandemic.

PM Must Immediately Withdraw His Call to Violate National Lockdown

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 6IN his address to BJP workers from the BJP office on its 40th foundation day, Prime Minister Modi gave an open call to BJP workers to violate the lockdown. First, he asked each worker to contribute generously to the fund he created and also collect contribution from 40 others. Secondly, at every booth level, BJP workers are to visit at least 40 people who are working for essential services and health care to personally thank them.

Risks of a Nationwide Blackout

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 04, 2020THE prime minister’s call to switch off lights for nine minutes on Sunday night to ‘fight’ Covid-19 poses a real threat to the country’s electrical system – the national grid. What could happen to the grid with the simultaneous switching off and on of all household lighting load, roughly 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the grid’s power? The grid could turn unstable and collapse. We could then have a cascading blackout, like it happened over most of India in July 2012.

Act on a War Footing to Fight Covid-19 Pandemic

Below we publish the full text of the letter addressed to the president of India by CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, on April 6, urging the president to prevail upon the central government to take action on the measures suggested in the letter to control Covid-19 pandemic.I AM writing to you, as you are the custodian of the Indian Constitution under whose sanction and authority, the central government functions.The country and people have gone through two ‘symbolic’ events so far.

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