Monthly Archives: November 2013

Non-Congress, Non-BJP Front – Prakash Karat

07 Thursday Nov 2013

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PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 : In a tactical move
against Congress and BJP, the Left will seek to bring secular
regional parties on a common platform ahead of Lok Sabha
polls, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said today.
“In the coming Lok Sabha elections, appropriate tactics
should be adopted to defeat Congress and thwart BJP and
strengthen the Left and non-Congress, non-BJP forces,” he
said.
Karat was making a presentation on “the political
situation and the way forward” at a seminar organised by AKG
Study and Research Centre here to mark the Jyoti Basu
centenary year.
Setting out the twin objectives before the Left parties,
he said they should lead the fight against UPA’s “harmful
policies and corruption” and pay equal attention to mobilise
secular-democratic forces to combat the “disruptive politics”
of RSS-BJP combine which is projecting Narendra Modi as its
prime ministerial candidate.
Holding that Congress and BJP are two faces of the ruling class politics, he said there is a need to build an
alternative to their “bourgeois-landlord” polices by rallying
forces like regional parties around alternative policies.
Though most regional parties had no common political and
policy positions and were prone to take stands based on their
interests in the states concerned, CPI(M) had been trying to
draw some of them into joint action on common policy issues,
the CPI(M) leader said.
He said UPA’s return to power in 2009 was largely due to
implementation of several pro-people policies during 2004-09
under the influence of the Left which had supported it then.
In contrast, UPA-II had a ‘disastrous record’ in
aggressively pushing policies of ‘appeasing’ corporates and
big businesses at the “neglect” of vast sections of people, he charged.
At the outset, Karat paid rich tributes to the memory of
Jyoti Basu, describing him as a model Communist who showed how the parliamentary path could be utilised for the benefit of workers and peasants without deviating from the revolutionary path.

October Revolution in Russia which changed the world.

07 Thursday Nov 2013

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It was on 7th November 1917, that the October Revolution succeeded changing the world situation ( The difference of October/November is due to the Russian calender). For the first time, the workers captured power through revolution putting an end to the Czar rule and started a new era, which inspired the working class and the toiling people all over the world. The young USSR was attacked by the allies of Czar from all sides, but the revolution defeated all these attacks.

Under the leadership of Communist Party led by Lenin, Stalin and others USSR strengthened and became a world force. The defence by USSR was crucial in the utter defeat of Hitler in the II World War, which weakened the British and other empires and resulted in freedom for dozens of countries including India.

On this 97th Anniversary of the October Revolution, my greetings to the world working class and comrades, who continue to struggle for the victory of the proletariat all over the world.

TC recommends higher price for spectrum

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

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The meeting of the Telecom Commission has recommended to the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) for higher price for auction of Spectrum. This is more than recommended by TRAI, but still less than the base price decided earlier.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Charkha auctioned, other mementos also

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

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India Government seems least concerned with the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation. The latest news of auctioning of the Charkha and other mementos connected with the Mahatma in a London Auction house, fully confirms this.

The Charkha used by Mahatma Gandhi was sold for 110,000 pounds ( approximately Rs.95 crores). It was the Charkha modified by the Mahatma to fold and take along with him in the journeys during the 1940s.This was mainly used in Yerwada jail. It was one of the weapons of the Mahatma in self reliance for the country.

The Mullock’s Auction House also auctioned many other mementos belonging to Gandhiji, including the Last Will written by him at the Sabarmati Ashramam. This important historical document was sold for 20,000 pounds ( approximately Rs. 17 lakhs). 60 similar items connected with Gandhiji were auctioned yesterday.

There was not even a representative of the government of India. There are certain issues which come to the mind of every Indian, in this connection. No. 1, how these historical mementos of the Father of the Nation have reached the auction house? No.2, whether these have been looted or purchased by the auction house? No.3, whether the government was aware of the auction and if so, what it has done for getting it back to the country? No.4, Whether the government of India considers that these are part of the National Heritage and part of the Independence movement? No.5, Whether the government at lease now take any action to bring it to the country in honour of the Mahatma.

It seems that the government is least concerned on all these issues. Its Archeological Survey of India is interested in digging to find out gold as per the dream of a so called saint. The Government purchases helicopters with out any limit for its VVIPs, auctions spectrum etc. losing lakhs of crores of rupees for the country. But it don’d find time and money to bring back its own historical mementos. And why the government is not demanding the Government of Britain to return these and many other historical artefacts and treasures looted by them when India was being ruled by them.
The government has to answer these questions.

Kerala BSNLEU Circle Conference started today.

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

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The 7th Circle Conference of BSNLEU started today, 6th November 2013. The conference was inaugurated by Comrade M.A.Baby, former Minister, Kerala and CPI(M) leader. The 3 days conference have open session,delegates session, cultural session, Mahila session etc.
Since 1961, when the Circle unions of NFPTE started in Kerala, this is the first time that I am not able to attend the circle conference of NFPTE/BSNLEU in Kerala. The annual circle conference was an opportunity for me to meet the old and new comrades of Kerala, who were always in the fore-front of the struggles, and renew the acquaintance.
The present Conference is being held at Kottayam. It was in the Conference at Kottayam in 1978, that I was elected as the Circle Secretary of Kerala for the first time. I continued till 1982, when Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, senior leader, was elected as the Circle Secretary, who continued in the post for about 20 years. Now Com.K.Mohan is the Circle Secretary, who has ably led the movement along with other leaders like Com.R.Muralidharan Nair, AGS, Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle president and others. Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, though not holding any post after his retirement, continues to be the leading light and strength of the organisation.
There are hundreds of senior and junior comrades who have made the Kerala Circle Union one of the best organised circle union in the country.
My Red salute to all these comrades at the time of the 7th Circle Conference! Wish the Circle Conference all success!

How Rich is Sachin Tendulkar – A PTI Report

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

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New Delhi, Nov 5 :Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who is retiring this month, is the country’s wealthiest cricket player with a personal fortune of USD 160 million, according to a Wealth-X estimate.

“Tendulkar has amassed a fortune that eclipses the combined net worth of the four other cricketers on the list, and is more than three times the net worth of the next wealthiest player, Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Wealth-X said.

The list of top five wealthiest cricket players, compiled
by Wealth-X, was headed by Tendulkar with USD 160 million,
followed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni (USD 50 million), Yuvraj
Singh (USD 30 million), Rahul Dravid (USD 20 million) and
Virat Kohli (USD 15 million).

According to Wealth-X, a global wealth intelligence and
prospecting company, the wealth of Tendulkar “eclipses” the
combined fortunes of others on the list.

The 40-year-old former India captain, who stepped down
from one-day internationals in December, 2012, would end his
career with his final and 200th test match against West Indies in late November.

Tendulkar played his final Twenty20 match in the
Champions League T20 final between his Mumbai Indians team and the Rajasthan Royals side led by another former Indian
skipper, Rahul Dravid, who made his last competitive
appearance on the cricket field during that match.

“Tendulkar is popular across the world, and in 1992
became the first overseas player to sign for Yorkshire,
scoring more than 1,000 runs in the Summer”

BCPC Meeting on 19th October 2013.

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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A meeeting of the available membes of the Bharat Central Pensioners Association (BCPC) wass held on 19th October 2013 at New Delhi, presided over by Shri S.C.Maheswari, Secretary General BPS. From AIBDPA Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor attended. Com. S.K.Vyas, Secretary General reported the lastet developments.The following decisions were taken:
1. Shri S.C.Maheswari was elected as Chairman of BCPC, in place of Shri S.S.Ramachandran, whose resignation was accepted with much reluctance.
2. The next AGM will be held at New Delhi, after Holi. The date will be fixed in consultation with the Chairman.
3. The draft terms of reference for VII Central Pay Commission presented by Secretary General was adopted after discussion.

‘NOTA’ in ballot papers – Major political parties worried

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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The decision of the Election Commission to implement the ‘NOTA’ opportunity to the voters in the oncoming assembly elections in the 5 states of Delhi, Rajasthan, M.P., Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, has seriously worried the major political parties. The ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) choice is given to the voters, who do not want to vote for any of the candidates in the list. The ‘NOTA” button in the Electronic Voting Machine(EVM)/ symbol in the Ballot Paper, will be pink in the assembly elections, but will be in white for the General Election.
Both the ruling and opposition parties, Congress and BJP, are much worried, since a lot of voters angry with the track-record of the present incumbents may vote ‘NOTA’.
It will be interesting to see much ‘NOTA’ votes pile up.

Good News! – Kolkata, Chennai Airport Privatisation delayed

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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The latest news in ‘Business Line’ today indicate that the proposed privatisation of Chennai, Kolkata and other 4 airports will be delayed. As per the report, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has extended the dates for shortlisting the companies who have offered for taking over the airports. About nine companies, including foreign companies, have shown interest in the project for Chennai.
The decision to delay shortlisting can be well understood. There has been strong opposition from the Airports Authority Unions against the privatisation. Now the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transports chaired by Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) M.P., has unanimously opposed to the privatisation of these profit-making airports, after modernisation has been done by the Airports Authority of India, a PSU, at great costs. The Standing Committee also has pointed out the case of Delhi Airport, after it was privatised, that the departure and arrival charges being collected from the passengers have gone sky-high.
The airport privatisation will result in more charges on the passengers and maximum profit for the private companies. The UPA government is in an aggressive mood to privatise all the PSUs to the extend possible and destroy the PSUs which have benefited in the growth of the country.
Strong protests should come from from all unions and progressive forces against this cheap selling of the nation’s properties. We have to fully support the unions in the AAI, who are fighting against the privatisation.

Kerala Circle Conference of BSNLEU

04 Monday Nov 2013

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The Circle Conference of BSNL Employees Union, Kerala Circle will be held from 6th to 8th November 2013 at Kottayam. This time, due to ill-health, I am not in a position to attend the same.
It is for the first time since 1961 that I am missing the Kerala circle Conference. As many old comrades may remember, the Kerala Circle unions of NFPTE were formed in 1960, bifurcated from Madras Circle. The first conference of the P and T Unions was jointly held at Trivandrum. I was a delegate both to the E.III Union as Branch Secretary and E.IV Union as President. The first Conference was a historical one with the very important decisions taken in the Conference.
The three most important decisions taken were: 1) The NFPTE Unions in Kerala will hold the Circle Conferences jointly at the same place. 2) The Circle Union Offices of all the unions will function together and 3) A Joint journal for the P and T Unions will be published. Accordingly P and T House functioned as the Circle HQ, Kampithapal was the organ of the P and T Co-ordinating Committee and the Circle Conference were jointly held. This system continued till BSNL was formed in 2000.
It was a pleasure to meet hundreds of leading comrades together who built up the strong P and T movement in Kerala. After formation of BSNL Employees Union also, I used to attend all the Circle Conferences. This time I will be missing all the comrades who attend the Conference, since i will not be able to attend. I now remember that I was elected as the Circle Secretary of the AITEU Class III, Kerala in the Circle Conference held at Kottayam in 1978.
All my Best Wishes for the success of the Conference. My Fraternal greetings to all the delegates and Comrades present.