The World Economy in Decline

THE European Central Bank last month pushed its benchmark interest rate to minus 0.5 per cent, which means that if it gives a loan of 100 euros then it would be paid back only 99.5 euros at the expiry of the loan. This has started a new trend: in countries like Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic and even Greece, the yields on government bonds have been pushed into the negative region. Lenders to these governments in other words are willing to pay for holding government bonds.

Telangana: Transport Corporation Employees on Strike Since Oct 5

TELANGANA State Road Transport Corporation employees have been on strike since October 5, but there is no resolution in sight due to the government’s irresponsible stand and unilateral action. All opposition mass organisations, parties, and employees, teachers and workers’ unions have announced their support and solidarity. The protests have been continuing in many ways. The RTC Joint Action Committee has announced the future course of action. All parties, including the CPI(M), have agreed to participate in the programme in support of the strike and make it a success.

AIDWA State Conferences

Rajasthan THE 11th state conference of Rajasthan AIDWA was held on August 27-28 at Hanumangarh. A public meeting was held before the conference which was addressed by Mariam Dhawale and other leaders of AIDWA. Mariam also inaugurated the conference. She castigated the Modi government for being anti-people and particularly anti-women. She spoke about growing unemployment, price rise etc., and called upon the women to build strong movement and organisation.Leaders of fraternal organisations-CITU, AIKS, DYFI, Jan natya manch greeted the conference.

Privatisation of BPCL: A Hazardous Sell-off

THE Narendra Modi dispensation, in its second term, is advancing its privatisation drive at a perilous speed. The government is on a selling spree getting rid of public sector industries, which are the backbone of our economy, one by one. The move to sell majority shares of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is the latest in the list. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has already invited request for proposals from eligible parties to work as transaction and legal advisors, and asset valuers for five PSUs, including BPCL.

Ayodhya-how Pious?

AYODHYA, from a Hindu politico laboratory to Politico-Religious Capital of the Hindu Right is the correct way of defining the transformation of this city. Ayodhya, which was considered to be a city of piousness for devout Hindus based on Hindu mysticism, over the years, has completely changed. Thanks to the experiment of the Sangh Parivar, of course the RSS in the lead, the Ayodhya has metamorphosised into a centre of syndicates of various kinds; spiritual, land, political and criminal.

Will India be Able to Avoid a Military Quad?

THE Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue (“the Quad”) between India, Australia, Japan and the US has got a fresh lease of life. In a significant development for the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region, Quad held its first minister-level meeting on September 27 in New York.The efforts to build an Indo-Pacific security architecture was initiated in 2007, when for the first time the four countries met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum summit in the Philippines.

Brahmagiri’s Kerala Chicken Project-Modern Co-operative Farming

THE last six month’s experience of ‘Kerala Chicken Project’(KCP) launched by the Left and Democratic Front(LDF) government of Kerala illustrates the significance of alternative model of agrarian development that could support the peasantry in their struggle to overcome the intense, countrywide agrarian crisis. This particular project enables peasants as well as consumers in modernising agriculture; establish the collective ownership of the peasantry over agro-based industries and marketing.The LDF government in Kerala - through the KCP, helps the peasantry to develop collective/ cooperati

Withdraw Order to Vacate JNUSU Office

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on October 17, 2019THE JNU authorities have ordered that the office of the JNU Students Union should be vacated. This is the latest and flagrant attempt to suppress the elected student body.The university authorities had refused to notify the union for the previous year 2018-19 too. This is being done despite the judicial scrutiny which legitimised the election to the JNU Students Union this year, where students have participated in very large numbers.

Withdraw Action against Students in Wardha

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on October 12THE CPI(M) expresses its opposition to the expulsion of six students by the authorities of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Viswa Vidyalaya in Wardha, Maharashtra for conducting a dharna and writing a letter to Prime Minister Modi on public issues, by invoking the model code of conduct now in force for the assembly elections.Citing the model code of conduct, which is for election campaign, to take action is specious and irrelevant inside a campus.

Results Notwithstanding, Portuguese Communists Vow to Intensify Class Struggles

PORTUGAL, Austria and Poland had elections to their respective parliaments recently. While the Social Democrats were victorious in Portugal, Conservatives won in Austria and Poland. A noteworthy feature is the decrease in the vote share of the far-right party in Austria, a coalition partner of the Conservatives in the previous government; the entry of Left into Polish parliament and the marginal setback to the Left parties in Portugal.In Austria, the ruling Conservative Austrian People's Party won 37.5 per cent of the votes, retaining power.

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