Neo-Liberalism and Democracy

THE viability of democracy requires a belief among people that they can make a difference to their lives by participating in the democratic process. This belief may be a false one; it may be a mere illusion. But unless this illusion exists, people become not just cynical about the democratic process but despondent about their capacity to make any difference to their lives through their own efforts. Such despondency then leads to their quest for a “saviour” or a “messiah” supposedly endowed with extraordinary powers who can come to their rescue.

KERALA: Raksha March Culminates in Massive Rally

DISPLAYING the invincible strength of the communist movement in Kerala, the 26 days long Kerala Raksha March, led by CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, culminated in a massive rally attended by tens of thousands of people in the historic city of Kozhikode, on the shore of Arabian Sea on February 26, 2014. The march, which raised the slogan “Secular India and Developed Kerala,” reached Kozhikode after meeting lakhs of people en route in almost all the assembly constituencies in the state.

‘Throw out Congress, Prevent BJP’

ELEVEN non-Congress, non-BJP political parties resolved to work together to present an alternative before the people of the country for the coming Lok Sabha elections. They also issued a joint declaration that called for throwing out the Congress from power and defeating the BJP to prevent it from coming to power. Leaders of CPI(M), CPI, All India Forward Bloc, RSP, JD(U), Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, JD(S) and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha held a meeting on 25th February at Tripura Bhavan in New Delhi and released the joint declaration.

Relief for People only through An Alternative Policy Trajectory

THE Joint Declaration issued by the secular non-Congress, non-BJP opposition parties in the light of the forthcoming 16th general elections made it unequivocally clear that they have come together responding to the overwhelming urge of our people who are desperately looking for relief from the growing economic burdens that are leading to a sharp decline in quality of life. Apart from the four Left parties, leaders of five other regional parties were present at the meeting.

In Solidarity with Venezuela

THE Venezuela Solidarity Committee denounces the ongoing attempts to destabilise the Bolivarian government of Venezuela. Right-wing opposition groups, supported by the rich oligarchs are openly inciting violence against the democratically elected government. The hand of the US is clearly visible in these events, as evidence emerged that some of the diplomatic officials stationed in the US embassy were in regular contact with the perpetrators of the opposition sponsored violence.

Cuba Condemns Attempted Coup in Venezuela

THE Republic of Cuba’s government strongly condemns the ongoing attempts to carry out a coup d’état against the constitutional government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the violent incidents organised by fascist groups which have caused deaths, dozens of injuries, attacks on public institutions, the burning of vehicles and destruction – as denounced before the world by President Nicolás Maduro Moros.

Venezuela Warns US to Keep Off

The following is the Communiqué issued by the Ministry of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on February 16, 2014

Humanitarian Aid for Syria

THE government of Kuwait hosted the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference on Syria in the third week of January just before the warring sides in civil conflict resumed peace talks in Geneva. The conference, unlike the one in Geneva, saw the international community unite for a worthy cause. Iran was one of the 69 governments and 24 international organizations that participated in the successful conference. The conference was presided over by the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon. India was represented by the Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed.

Struggle Committee for Annihilation of Caste Holds State Convention

THE first state convention of the Struggle Committee for the Annihilation of Caste (Jaati Anta Sangharsh Samiti) was held at Nagpur on January 25, 2014. The venue was named after Surekha Bhotmange and the hall after Priyanka Bhotmange, the mother and daughter duo who were raped and killed in the horrendous Khairlanji caste atrocity that took place in the adjoining Bhandara district in 2006. The convention was attended by 203 delegates from 25 districts of the state.

NCW must Ensure Speedy Justice: AIDWA

ON February 7, 2014, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) submitted a memorandum to Ms Mamta Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), at New Delhi. The aim was to bring to the notice of the NCW a recent incident of gangrape at Amta in Howrah district in West Bengal. In this case, a 27 years old housewife and her mother-in-law, aged 43 years, were brutally gangraped on February 4, 2014. They were admitted in the Ulberia hospital with severe injuries.

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