Education: The Threat of Unfreedom

OF late, news headlines have been hogged by the continuing struggle by the students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The students’ protest was in opposition to imposition of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the institute and three other members in the governing council. The outrage has, of course, gone far beyond this exalted institute and shared by large number of film professionals and the creative community.

Behind The Volatile Market

INDIA’S stock market is passing through a volatile phase. While the 1625 point collapse of the Sensex on August 24, 2015, which was the largest decline in six years, was followed by a return to stability and even moderate buoyancy, the mere announcement of a half of a percentage point decline in the quarterly GDP growth rate during April to June, was enough to precipitate a more than 500 point decline on September 1, 2015.

Police Brutality on Peasant March in West Bengal Condemned

RALLIES and demonstrations were held in many areas across the country to protest against the Trinamool Congress government’s highhandedness and police brutality on a peaceful march of peasants and agricultural workers to Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat, on August 27 demanding remunerative prices for farm produces, work for the rural poor, payment of wages for work under MNREGA and relief for the flood-affected people.Protest rallies were held in many areas in Delhi, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam among others.

Thinking Together

Why is the CPI(M) opposed to the RTI (Right to Information) Act being made applicable to it? The Central Information Commission has ruled that political parties should be brought under the purview of the Act yet the political parties are refusing to accept the decision? S Kameswari, Hyderabad THE CPI(M) fully supported the passage of the RTI Act at the time of the UPA-1 government. The Party strongly believes that the public has a right to know about the details regarding decisions taken and expenditure made by the central and state governments and all State institutions

Misuse of Census Data on Religion for Narrow Political Gains

THE belated release of census data on religion has been followed by predictable reactions from sections with a motivated interest in promoting sectarian divisions on religious lines. Judicious interpretation of census data can be a powerful tool for planning as demographic trends are good indicators of underlying socio-cultural and economic factors that determine changes in the trajectory of populations. India is perhaps the most culturally diverse country in the world and disaggregated census data provides information about social, cultural and economic trends in different communities.

Heinous Murder of Prof Kalburgi

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on August 31.

THE Polit Bureau expresses its deep shock and condemnation of the dastardly killing of Prof M M Kalburgi, renowned Kannada scholar, writer and former vice chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi. Prof M M Kalburgi was known for his strong views against superstition, obscurantism and for scientific temper.

Magnificent Strike

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on September 2, 2015.

THE Polit Bureau congratulates the working class of India for the magnificent strike they organised today (September 2, 2015). The CPI(M) had extended full support to the strike and the joint demand charter of the ten central trade unions and national and state federations.

Don’t Create Communal Controversies in Late President Kalam’s Name

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on September 1, 2015

Harkishan Singh Surjeet Centenary Celebration held at Jamshedpur

THE year-long birth centenary celebration of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet was inaugurated on August 31 at the Michael John Auditorium in Jamshedpur. The CITU district committee of Kolhan division and the AIDWA committee have initiated the formation of a broad based organising committee to observe the centenary.

CTUs Congratulate Workers For Unprecedented Strike on Sept 2

The following is the statement issued on September 2 by the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF. IT has been an unprecedented strike of millions of workers at the call of Central Trade Unions. Response has been as never before. It is the biggest strike ever in the country. This strike has been called by 10 Central Trade Unions. It has been supported by thousands of local unions, unaffiliated associations and federations. It is the broadest unity of the trade unions that has achieved this miracle.

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