Chandrashekhar's Statue unveiled in Siwan on the 9th anniversary of his martyrdom, 31 March 2006.

Red Salute to the Brave and Fighting People of Nepal

THE people of Nepal are once again making history. The surging waves of people's movement in this Himalayan ‘kingdom' have already forced the thoroughly isolated and infamous king on the backfoot. The autocratic king who had first usurped the royal throne through a gory palace massacre and then gone on to steal absolute power by hijacking the fledgling system of multi-party democracy has now been compelled to promise to ‘return' sovereignty to the people. Many leaders of the movement including CPN(UML) General Secretary Madhav Nepal......Full text

Nepal : Birth Pangs of A New Republic

Nepal is in the midst of a veritable civil war. Renowned military scientist Clausewitz said that war is a continuation of politics. But Nepal is witnessing a peculiar situation in which politics and war have merged into one. People are taking on the military on streets. Curfew, shoot at sight order promulgated by the monarch have all proved futile. Political parties have rejected the King's offer of talks, saying that he is facing complete isolation at home and in the international community. In response they have launched ‘Non Cooperation Movement' on 16 April 2006.........Full text

Amir Das Commission Disbanded:

Nitish's Desperate Attempt to Shield Political Patrons of Ranvir Sena

The refusal of the Nitish Kumar government of Bihar to grant extension to the Amir Das Commission probing the political links of the Ranvir Sena is a blatant assault on truth and democracy. Recall that the Commission was set up in the wake of the infamous Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre in which killers of the Ranvir Sena had slaughtered more than 60 oppressed labouring people of this Jehanabad village in one single night in December 1997,.....Full text

Bursting the Dam of Protest:

From the Frontlines of an Andolan on the Streets of Delhi

As she broke her 20-day fast last night, surrounded by hundreds of supporters, Medha Patkar was very clear that this was no victory. Rather, she was breaking the fast to intensify the fight - the two-week fight for truth and justice that the Supreme Court has imposed on the Andolan. She asked the JNU Students' Union President Mona Das to speak, exposing the BJP-Congress tango and the prevarication of the Supreme Court. And then, in a voice that, despite the weakness, rang with conviction and challenge, Medha Patkar called upon all to join the fight of ‘Modi vs. Gandhi, Modi vs Ambedkar, Modi vs. Marx and Modi vs Lohia'.......Full text

NBA vs the People of Gujarat ?

As the movement to scrap the decision to raise the height of the Dam until rehabilitation was complete gathered steam, national dailies carried a full page ad with a large photograph of parched land, calling for quick construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The ad was sponsored by an entire galaxy of Hindu godmen and heads of leading corporations. We examine the reality behind the Sardar Sarovar's claims of quenching Gujarat 's thirst.......Full text

Reservations In Cold Storage Again

W e witnessed some futile attempts to whip up the ‘anti-Mandal' frenzy again recently, this time, around the proposal to ensure 27% reservation for OBC students in central educational institutions (from Central Universities to IITs and IIMs) as well as reservation in private sector jobs. It is true that the proposal for reservation in educational institutions came from the HRD Minister Arjun Singh, but in the face of open opposition by the managements of these elite central academic institutions.......Full text

The UPA's New CMP of Unified and Unfettered Repression

A s Union Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the previous NDA government, LK Advani had dubbed Naxalism ‘the worst enemy of the Indian dream'. As Prime Minister of the Congress-led and Left-backed UPA government, Dr. Manmohan Singh has now identified Naxalism as the greatest threat or challenge to India 's internal security as well as the Indian ‘way of life'.......Full text

Congress-BJP Tango over

Pro-US Policies

In the wake of George Bush's maiden India visit we are currently witnessing the beginning of a revealing political discourse between the two main parties of the Indian ruling classes. In a signed editorial in Sandesh, the monthly mouthpiece of her party, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has described the Bush visit as a remarkable achievement of the UPA government and charged parties opposing the visit and India's strategic partnership with the US.......Full text