The Bhopal Disaster: An Update

EVEN twenty nine years after the man-made disaster that hit the city of Bhopal on the night of December 02/03, 1984, the hapless victims are forced to wage a forlorn struggle to seek much-needed medical relief, adequate compensation and justice. The disaster was caused by the escape of about 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) – a highly toxic chemical – from a storage tank in a pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) due to criminal negligence and utter callousness on the part of the plant management in taking adequate safety precautions.

Yechury Calls Upon People To Defend Secularism

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and leader of Party group in Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury, called upon people to steadfastly defend secularism and secular democratic ideals. Speaking at Jyoti Basu centenary celebrations in Darjeeling town, Yechury recollected the role of Jyoti Basu in defending the secular fabric of the country and said, Basu was unwavering on this question. As a communist leader and as an administrator Basu always upheld the principle of secularism without faltering. He was an example on this question.

Withdraw the Order on HLWG (Kasturirangan Committee) Report

The following is the text of the press statement issued by the All India Kisan Sabha on November 20:

Modi’s Call on Article 370 Unacceptable: AMM

THE recently formed Jammu & Kashmir Awami Mutahida Mahaz (JKAMM, People’s United Front) has expressed its opinion that the remarks made by Narendra Modi seeking abrogation of article 370 of the Indian constitution are not only unwarranted but totally unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The AMM has demanded a concrete decision to restore the eroded provisions of this article of faith to its original status in the constitution.

Form Complaints Committees in Media Houses: DUJ

THROUGH its letters written to the Press Council of India (PCI), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW), the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has demanded the setting up of an internal complaints committee in accordance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, in every media organisation in the country, within a stipulated timeframe. The demand came in the wake of the growing number of cases of sexual assault and harassment taking place in media organisations.

Aadhar Compromised

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on December 5, 2013.

THE report that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has tied up with a US company with CIA links is a matter of deep concern. According to a report in the Economic Times, a US company, MongoDB is providing the software to manage the data base for the registration of Aadhar. One of the investors in this company is the CIA.

Sit-in Demonstration to Defend Democracy

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THOUSANDS of people joined in the sit-in protest to condemn the attack on democratic rights of the people in the state for over past two and a half year. At the call of the Left Front, the protest held at the Rani Rasmani Road near Esplanade, Kolkata started at 1 PM and continued till 5 PM. Biman Basu, Surjya Kanta Mishra and other Left Front leaders were present at the sit-in protest.

Saudi Arabia: Frustration, Petulance and Anger

THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did something unprecedented in the annals of post-war diplomatic history. It refused to take up its seat in the prestigious UN Security Council after strenuously lobbying for it and winning the support of 176 states. The Saudi foreign ministry had initially declared that the winning of a seat in the Security Council was a historic achievement and a vindication of its stance on issues relating to Syria, Iran and the region. The Saudi ambassador to the UN, Abdullah al Moullami went to the extent of describing it as a “defining moment” in the country’s history.

Nationalism, Secularism & Modi

Nilotpal Basu

A WEIRD political discourse raged across the country focusing on the nature of Indian nationalism; and its natural attribute, secularism. As is now becoming so familiar with BJP’s and more significantly, Modi’s campaign style; the emphasis is clearly on constructing imagery to drive home a political message. And, currently there is an overdose of that defining feature.

Signature Campaign for Amendments to SC/ST Act

A WORKSHOP on amendments needed to the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act 1989, held recently at Malur in Kollar district, was inaugurated by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member K Varadha Rajan who said the CPI(M)’s approach on caste issues is to integrate the struggles for social justice with class struggle. The surveys conducted by the party in different states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka have revealed that there have been more than 150 discriminatory practices based on the caste system.

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