Monthly Archives: November 2015

126th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

14 Saturday Nov 2015

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Nehru

India today celebrates the 126th Birthday Anniversary of its first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was born on 14th November 1889. His contribution to the Independence movement, his tilt towards socialism and his initiative in starting the Public Sector Units in the country is well known and appreciated.

On this occasion, I remember about the rare chance I got to meet Nehruji. I think it was in 1956 or 1957. Panditji had come to Tellicherry in Kerala and was addressing a public meeting. I was working as a teacher in a nearby School, about some 25 miles or so from the place. I came to the meeting to see and hear him. I could stand only at a distance since there was a big crowd. I wanted to see him from near and to get his autograph.

I thought and found an idea. I had a small box-camera with me, which was presented to me by a pen-friend from Germany. Cameras were far less and mainly the news photographers used them. I thought if I move like a news reporter, I can reach him. That was exactly what happened. I was allowed to go nearby by the police and I took his photo. I requested for an autograph and he signed in the book. I was thrilled that I had been able to meet the Prime Minister from near and got the autograph of the great national leader. I showed the same with pride to my friends and colleagues.

Homage to Nehruji, the architect of the Nation, on his 125th Birth Anniversary!

 

 

Govt. plans to sell PSUs – HMT, Tungabhadra Steel Limited.

14 Saturday Nov 2015

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The government seems to be in a move to sell the loss making HMT and Tungabhadra Steel Ltd. It is reported in the press that the government is proposing to sell profitable PSUs also after the loss making PSUs are sold.

It is well known that,in order to close or sell the PSUs, the government, the owner itself, takes measures that will make even profitable PSUs to loss making. Take the case of ITI, BSNL, MTNL etc. All of them have become loss making only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government, whether UPA or NDA. In destroying PSUs both of them are in the same camp. Only that NDA government is more aggressive in the matter.

Writers and Intellectuals in UK protests against Modi’s visit

13 Friday Nov 2015

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200 writers, intellectuals and authors in UK have strongly protested against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to UK. They have written to the Prime Minister of UK, David Cameron, expressing serious concern against ‘the rising climate of fear, growing intolerance towards critical voices who challenge orthodoxy or fundamentalism in India’.

Prime Minister Modi later told in UK that ‘Intolerance will not be tolerated in India. It is the land of Budha and Mahatma Gandhi’. Statements are not sufficient. There should be strict action. Will it come? No chance from the Modi government.

RBI staff will be on Mass Casual Leave on 19th November 2015

13 Friday Nov 2015

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Protesting against the government move to take over several functions of the RBI and also demanding periodic pension revision, the United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees has called upon the employees and officers to go on Mass Casual Leave on 19th November 2015. The government is trying to take over reduce the authority of the RBI by taking its powers. The RBI pensioners are not getting any pension revision and hence receiving only pension fixed at the time of retirement.

The agitation programme is fully justified and is to be supported.

Trade Unions oppose recent increase in FDI in several sectors

13 Friday Nov 2015

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The mad run of the Modi government increasing FDI in many sectors, including up to 100% has been severely criticised by the Central Trade Unions. In a Press Statement BMS General Secretary Vrijesh Upadhyay has pointed out that the increase in FDI has not benefited the country. More money has gone out of India, than what has been invested here, he said. CITU President A.K.Padmanabhan and AITUC Secretary D.L.Sachdev have also strongly opposed the decision to increase FDI.

Arbitrary Restrictions on Compassionate Ground Appointment should be withdrawn

13 Friday Nov 2015

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It is very timely that the Staff Side of the National Council has included the above issue in their  Charter of Demands to the Government as part of the agitational programmes including Dharna on 19th November 2015.

This is an issue irritating the workers for a long time. After issuing the orders by the government restricting the compassionate ground appointment to 5% of the Direct Recruitment, many deserving family members have been denied of CGA. Many families are in the streets due to this arbitrary decision. The government should be sensitive to the families of those died in the service of the people.

The government should discuss with the Staff Side and concede the genuine demand. It should be then, made applicable to the PSUs, State Government employees etc. also.

Congratulations to the Staff Side for focusing  this very important demand.

FDI strongly opposed – CPI(M)

12 Thursday Nov 2015

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New Delhi, November 12: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the announcement by the Prime Minister easing the regulations for Foreign Direct Investments in our country.  15 areas, including single brand retail, banking, construction, media, airlines, defence, banking, plantations etc., are to be opened up for approval under the automatic route.  32 new investment points will now allow FDI automatically.  The cap for approval of foreign investments has been raised to Rs. 5,000 crore from the existing Rs. 3,000 crores. The increase in the FDI to 49 per cent for news channels and radio is particularly harmful as it will facilitate near complete control of the news media by foreign media monopolies.

All these decisions have been taken on the eve of the winter session of the Parliament.  Worse they have been taken even without the Cabinet approval.  This is a complete travesty of our system of parliamentary democracy.  The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns such unilateral decisions by the PM.

Clearly, these announcements have come on the eve of Prime Minister Modi’s yet another programme of foreign tours to London, G-20, Malaysia and Singapore.  PM Modi made these announcements with an aim to appease foreign capital.  Thus both India’s markets and resources are being opened up further for the maximization of profits for foreign capital.

This license to loot comes at a time when the majority of the Indian people continue to groan under newer economic burdens. Price rise of essential commodities continues unabated. The agrarian distress is deepening.  The increases in the minimum support prices are so meagre that they do not even cover the production costs.  This is accelerating the distress suicides of our farmers.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon PM Modi and his government to focus attention on providing relief to the vast majority of our Indian people as promised during the 2014 election campaign.

 

Meeting with CMD on Kerala Victimisation issues

12 Thursday Nov 2015

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Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF met CMD BSNL Shri Anupam Shrivastava and pointed out the delay is revoking/cancelling  the Suspension, transfer and charge sheet cases in Kerala Circle. The CGM is delaying the matter. Com. Namboodiri demanded that these issues be settled with out any further delay. CMD stated that this will be favourably considered.He also stated that the CGM is fully empowered to settle the cases.

Union also requested that the report of the Committee on wages etc. of contract workers in Kerala be finalised and ordered early. It is understood that this may be finalised by next week.

Bihar Debacle – Strong Criticism of BJP leadership by Party veterans

11 Wednesday Nov 2015

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The election debacle in the Bihar  is having strong reaction in the BJP. In addition to the strong criticism against  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Party President Amit Shah by many BJP leaders in Bihar,  four veterans of the party viz.  L.K.Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Shanta Kumar and Yeshwant Sinha have spoken sharply against the leadership. They severely criticised the assessment of the party that all are jointly responsible for the debacle. Both Advani and Joshi are former BJP Presidents and present Marg Darshaks. They continued that  those who would have appropriated credit if the party had won are bent on shrugging of responsibility for the debacle. They also stated that a thorough review is required for the defeat as well as the way the party is being forced to kow-tow to a handful. They stated that the review “must not be done by the very persons who have managed and who have been responsible for the campaign in Bihar”.

There will be many in the BJP, who may support the view now, but  were afraid to say anything against the Mod-Amit Shah earlier.

‘On the Origin of Species’ the most influential academic book, ‘Communist Manifesto’ second.

11 Wednesday Nov 2015

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As per the report of the British Library and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the ‘On the Origin of Species’ written by Charles Darwin has been voted as the most influential academic book ever written. It is mentioned as ” A book which has changed the way we think about every thing”.

The second most influential academic book as per votes is “The Communist Manifesto” written by Karl Marx and Frederic Engels, which has deeply influenced the world over the last one and half centuries.

Certainly, it is a must to read these two  books by all to understand the human civilisation, changes through centuries and how to advance.