IN colonial times, the peasantry had to borrow from private moneylenders. According to Provincial Banking Enquiry Committee reports, these moneylenders in turn borrowed from commercial banks. But while disbursing credit to the peasants and charging exorbitant interest rates, the money lenders at least bore the whole of the lender’s risk. The banks from whom they borrowed did not bear any risk in case the peasants could not pay back the loans they had obtained from the moneylenders.

AIKS ROLE IN FARMERS’ STRUGGLETHE AIKS has been an important constituent of the AIKSCC and the SKM ever since their inception. In this capacity, it played a major role in the collective decision making and implementation of the just-concluded farmers’ struggle. Whenever contentious issues came up, the AIKS always took a principled stand on them, for strengthening the unity of the SKM.Within the SKM, the AIKS also took the initiative to strengthen worker-peasant unity and the unity of farmers with other sections of the people.

EVEN two weeks after the hate-mongering dharma sansad in Haridwar on December 17 to 19, where calls were given to attack Muslims and eliminate them by mass murder, there has not been a single arrest.  The first FIR lodged had only one name, that too of a Muslim who converted to Hinduism.  Subsequently, after another FIR was filed, four more names were added including that of Yati Narsinghanand, the organiser of the event.On January 1, the Uttarakhand police had announced a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the matter and the police officer-in-charge, when asked if arr

THE 7th state conference of CPI(M) Uttarakhand concluded with a strong party building, mass movement and a resolve to ensure the defeat of communal forces in the state.RALLY AND OPEN SESSIONThe conference was held from December 24-26, 2021 at Comrade Virendra Bhandari Nagar and Comrade Satyaprakash Manch, Jain Dharamshala, Dehradun.

AS the UP elections draw closer, the visits of the prime minister to the state are becoming an almost everyday affair.  These visits are well-choreographed events with Narendra Modi alone at the centre whether under the focus of laser lights or on a high podium.  Each event is used to announce a plethora of ‘gifts’ to the people ranging from a spanking, shiny new look Vishwanath Mandir in Varanasi to cash transfers to women’s SHGs.  These state-sponsored events are also utilised in the most brazen fashion to pour vitriol on opposition leaders, Akhilesh Yadav in particular, and, of course, M