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Editorial |
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Anti-Corruption Movement: Popular Resolve Must Overcome Team Anna’s Predicament
In April 2011, the Anna Hazare phenomenon had suddenly taken India by a storm. The idea of a powerful anti-corruption institutional watchdog tapped into the simmering anger of the Indian people and ‘Team Anna’ emerged as the most visible centre of a growing campaign calling for an immediate passage of an effective Jan Lokpal legislation. Overnight, Anna Hazare assumed iconic proportions in the eyes of the country’s youth fed up with corrupt and self-seeking politicians....Full text
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From the horse's mouth |
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From the Horse’s Mouth: Perils of Neoliberalism
How do the custodians of global capitalism view the world economic and political scenario today? Let us hear from two of them: the IMF and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The gloomy picture drawn by the IMF was not that unexpected, but it is the “Insight Report” by WEF – from which we bring you substantial excerpts – that makes really interesting reading....Full text
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Cover Feature |
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Challenges for the Women’s Movement
[The 6th National Conference of AIPWA is to be held at Vijaywada on 8-9 February. As a curtain-raiser, we have an overview of the major issues and challenges facing the women’s movement in India today.]
All over the world – be it in the Arab Spring, in the movements against austerity measures all over Europe, in the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests in the US, or in struggles against corruption and corporate land grab in India –women have been at the forefront of a remarkable wave of people’s movements for democracy. In India, too, women are coming forward to assert their rights and demand equality. But ruling class policies, and regressive social forces, present a formidable challenge to women’s assertion....Full text
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From The States |
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Rally at Kolkata for
Land, Livelihood, Democracy
On 10 January 2012, thousands of toiling people under the banner of CPI(ML) rallied at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Kolkata, demanding “Land, Livelihood, and Democracy”. Protesting against the anti-people policies of the new State Government, and the betrayal of the left legacy of West Bengal by the CPI(M)-led Left Front, the rally sent a powerful message that CPI(ML) is the only Left alternative and voice of resistance against the State Government led by the TMC-Congress combine....Full text
Mass Political Campaign in Jharkhand : An Overview
D P Bakshi
On 15 November 2011, the state of Jharkhand completed 11 years. In its journey of more than a decade, Jharkhand has acquired two persistent characteristics: as a fertile ground for growing loot, and recurring political instability....Full text
Gang-Rape of Dalit Woman
Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik Government In the Dock
Khitish Biswal
Odisha’s BJD Government has been rocked to the foundations by protests against the brutal gang rape and attempted murder of a 19-year-old dalit girl in Arjungoda, in Pipili constituency of Puri district. In the wake of the incident and the protests, Naveen Patnaik has been forced to get a Cabinet Minister Pradeep Maharathy to resign following allegations that he has been shielding the rapists....Full text
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Elections |
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State Assembly Elections 2012
Defeat the Forces of Corruption, Loot and Communalism in UP!
[CPI(ML) is fielding 44 candidates in the elections to the 16th Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. Below is an overview of the main issues and agenda outlined by the party, based on in its election manifesto.]
CPI(ML)’s election campaign in UP has a solid foundation of consistent movements for the rights and dignity of the poor, for democracy against state and feudal repression, and a glorious legacy of struggles and sacrifices....Full text
Teach A Lesson To Betrayers of Hill People’s Aspirations in Uttarakhand!
Elections to the Uttarakhand Assembly are being held for the third time. For over a decade, Congress and BJP governments, turn by turn, have vied with each other to break all records for scams....Full text
Support the United Platform of Fighting Left in Punjab!
The Akali-BJP Government in Punjab is facing people’s anger for its corrupt and repressive character. However, the Congress too stands deeply discredited thanks to the prevailing anger against the UPA rule at the centre. ...Full text
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Updates |
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AICCTU’s Proposals for the Forthcoming Union Budget
[Central TU organizations were invited for a pre-Budget consultation meeting with the Finance Minister on 16 January 2012. Central TUs presented a joint memorandum with a detailed set of proposals for the forthcoming Union Budget 2012-13. Rajeev Dimri, National Secretary, represented AICCTU at the meeting. Along with the joint memo, AICCTU also submitted a complementary note with its views and proposals. Excerpts of the latter are reproduced below.]
The views and proposals submitted by central trade unions in the pre-budget consultation meetings every year either do not find any place in the budget or are addressed in the form of some cosmetic measures, which too are not implemented as can be seen from the examples of “Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act 2008” and increase in the honorarium of Anaganwadi workers in the last budget. The issues of unorganized, contract workers, honorarium/incentive based workers like ASHA, Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, etc. working in several lakhs, implementing the most important schemes of the government but living in miserable conditions, do not find due importance in the budgets....Full text
Cyclone in Tamilnadu : Criminal Apathy of State and Central Governments
The cyclone Thane that hit Puducherry as well as Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamilnadu recently caused severe devastation. On 4 January 2012, a team led by Comrade Balasundaram (State Secretary, Tamilnadu) and Comrade Balasubramanian (State Secretary, Puducherry) visited the affected areas. Other members of the team included Comrades M Venkatesan (District Secretary, Villupuram) S Ammaiyappan (District Secretary, Cuddalore), S Ilangovan (District Secretary, Nagai-Thanjavur), TKS Janarthanan (State President, AIALA), Kaliyamurthi (Block Secretary, Thirunavalur), Thanavel (District Organizer, RYA, Cuddalore), Rajasankar (District Organizer, AISA, Cuddalore) and N Ganesan (AICCTU). A report of the main observations of the team as well as some of the initiatives of the party on the issue by Balasundaram....Full text
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Book Review |
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For a Brighter World: the Quest Continues
Arindam Sen
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism by Eric Hobsbawm
Hachette India/ Little, Brown, UK, 2010,473pp., Rs 795 (HB) ISBN 9781408702871
[A slightly modified version of this review was published in Biblio, September – October 2011.]
“We do not set ourselves up against the world in doctrinaire fashion with a new principle: Here is the truth! Here you must kneel! We do not seek to anticipate the new world dogmatically, but rather to discover it in the criticism of the old... It is not our task to build up the future in advance and to settle all problems for all time; our task is ruthless criticism of everything that exists, ruthless in the sense that the criticism will not shrink either from its own conclusions or from conflict with the powers that be...”
Karl Marx (Letter to Arnold Ruge, 1843) ...Full text
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Cover |
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Children in Neoliberal India – Starved and Stunted
PM Manmohan Singh would like us to believe that adopting the policies of liberalisation have put India on the fast track towards becoming a global superpower. Recent studies have, however, called his bluff, showing that when it comes to tackling hunger and basic literacy, India’s showing is among the worst in the world. Let’s look at some of the facts....Full text
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