Category Archives: General

Will change of ministers save or give a new face to the Govt.? NO!

28 Sunday Oct 2012

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Some tainted and ineffective ministers are being changed today to give a better face to the government, as per the media reports. S.M.Krishna, External minister and some others are being sent out. But will this give a better face to the government?

The answer is an emphatic NO! Many of the present ministers are involved in mega scams, but they have not been asked to resign or shunted out. The government is not prepared to make any enquiry against them. CBI is being made to act according to the requirement of the ruling party and the saying the it is ” Congress Bureau of Investigation” seems to have some meaning.

It is clear that the present change will not clear the image of the government. Many of the tainted ministers are still in important positions. The Prime Minister himself is in the shadow of corruption.

Homage to Vayalar Comrades!

27 Saturday Oct 2012

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The 66th anniversary of the Vayalar armed struggle and martyrdom of hundreds of comrades who faced the army of Travancore Raja and Diwan C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer  was observed at  Vayalar (Alappuzha) Martyrs cemetary. Top leaders of CPI and CPI(M) and thousands of people attended the function which continued from morning to evening. The red flag was hoisted in the morning and homage paid. There  were speeches, Kavi Sammelan and other programmes.

Vayalar and Punnappra will always be the inspiration of the toiling masses and the common people for whom the martyrs sacrificed their lives.

My blog completed 2222 posts.

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

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After the last post in the blog, all of a sudden  I  found out that 2222 posts have been published so far in my blog. It is not much, but still I feel happy to have expressed my views on many issues, although more postings might have been on important news. The maximum number of visitors in a day has so far been 2,321 . Total comments received is 1,16,182 . My thanks to all the visitors to the blog and those commented upon also.

US Military rapes young Japan woman – Strong protests

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

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Strong protest demonstrations were held in many places in Japan demanding strong action against the US military personnel who brutally attacked raped a young woman. The US have military bases in Japan. The protesters waved placards saying ” No Rape! No Base!”. A paper report from Japan is given below:

Following the arrests this week of two sailors in the alleged rape of a woman in Okinawa, the U.S. military vowed Friday to impose preventative steps, including a curfew and retraining programs.
The measures were announced at a joint news conference held by U.S. Ambassador John V. Roos and Lt. Gen Salvatore Angelella, the commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, at the embassy in Tokyo. Angelella said the curfew — 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. — would start immediately and cover all U.S. military personnel in Japan, including those on temporary assignment or who are transiting to another country. The duration of the curfew is open-ended. Angelella also said core value retraining for military and civilians will be conducted by subordinate commanders. Roos repeated in unusually stern terms that the U.S. government and military will cooperate with the probe by Japanese authorities, and that he shares the anger of Okinawa residents. “I have a 25-year-old daughter myself, so this is very personal to me,” Roos said in tears. The preventative measures came three days after the alleged rape by two U.S. sailors. The suspects were identified as Seaman Christopher Browning and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker, based at Joint Naval Air Station, Fort Worth, Texas. They allegedly attacked the woman, who is in her 20s, Tuesday in the city of Okinawa. While Dozierwalker has reportedly confessed, Browning has denied the allegations. Police Thursday reportedly found some of the victim’s belongings in their hotel room.( From The Japan Times)

United Nations completes 57 years

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

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The United Nations Organisation (UNO) which was formed on 24th October 1945 after the Second World War ( 1942-45) by 51 countries ‘committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights’ is completing 57 years of service. At present there are 193 member countries in the UNO. The UN has intervened on many occasions to bring down conflicts and restore peace among countries. But in the last few decades after the collapse of the USSR, it is almost being controlled by the US and many decisions are becoming partisan. However, its contribution in the past has been of great help to many nations. Let us hope that UNO functions effectively to bring world peace.

Brutal and dangerous exploitation of the natural resources

21 Sunday Oct 2012

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The environmentalists and social activists are continuously focussing on the danger of brutal and uncontrolled exploitation of the natural resources in the country like mines, minerals, water etc. Despite all warnings and rules restricting the same, the unbridled exploitation continues. While travelling from Goa to Belgaum today, 20th October, I saw how much disaster is being made by the land-mine mafias.

Vast areas near the roads have been devastated by the mining of bauxite. Some hills have been completely wiped by breaking the granite rocks. The areas seemed like a battle-field almost destroying the entire greenery and nature. At present the mining has been stayed by the government. Dozens of lorries and trucks could be seen on the road side idle at present but which was used to transport the bauxite, rocks etc.

This is only the condition of one small area. All over India this type of uncontrolled exploitation is continuing. It is certain some natural disaster may happen if this savagery on nature is not stopped.

Now it is vannamboodiri.com

08 Monday Oct 2012

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Dear Friends and well wishers,

I am glad to inform that my blog  vannamboodiri.wordpress.com  has been changed to vannamboodiri.com for the convenience and brevity. I hope you also like it. Thank You!

With Best Regards,

VAN Namboodiri

How big is Wal-Mart and how dangerous?

07 Sunday Oct 2012

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Government of India has increased the FDI in multibrand retail to 49% by a cabinet decision, which it could not pass  in the Parliament due to stiff opposition not only from the opposition parties but also from its own allies. The government wants MNCs like Walmart to come to India and invest in the retail market.

Who or what  is this Wal-Mart, whose name always comes first when mentioning retail trade?

It is the biggest retail trader in the world. But it is much more than that. It is the company with largest revenue in US with $ 421 billion. Its nearest rivals  are Exxon Mobile with $ 354.6 billion, Chevron with $ 196.3 billion and General Electrics with 151.6 billion. Compare this with India’s Reliance Industries with $ 76  billion. Wal-Mart’s grocery sales alone comes to $ 129 billion.

Its GDP is the 25th in the world more than the GDPs of 170 countries. It has got  manpower of more than 21 lakhs, much more than Indian railways, which is around 13 lakhs. Indian Army is considered to be 13.25 lakhs.

Wal-Mart has destroyed the retail trades in many countries. Now it is going to enter on a large-scale to India, the second largest populated country in the world. What will happen to the 4 crore of small traders and their families coming to about 10 crore?  Lakhs of farmers committed suicide after the MNCs came in the sector. Now what will the suicide numbers on the retail sector?

UPA II government is not worried. They are celebrating the success of the  top reforms which will only benefit the corporates and the ruling class.

These anti-people policies and decisions have to be defeated by sustained joint struggles and massive agitations. (with input from ET)

Rs. 11 further increase in LPG for increasing commission to agents

07 Sunday Oct 2012

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The Oil Companies have once again raised the price of cooking gas. It is now rs. 11 or 12 for a  cylinder depending upon the place. The subsidised cylinder will now cost Rs. 410 and non-subsidised Rs. 890 in Delhi.   It is stated by the oil companies that this increase for increasing the commission to be paid to the agents. The government is simply looking and enjoying. Those wha are rich, they can pay. What about the lower middle class and the poor ? From where they will find out the money for every day increasing prices of all commodities.Increase of price in any petroleum product will increase the price of all other commodities.

The government continues its attacks on the people in order to bolster the so-called economy, the maximisation of profits of the corporates.

FDI in Pension and Insurance – Another attack on people by UPA – II Govt.

05 Friday Oct 2012

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It seems that the UPA-II Government has become an organisation to implement whatever is demanded by the imperialists led by the US. The latter put pressure on allowing FDI in retail and it was given first for single retail and then for multiple retail despite protest from the traders, opposition parties and even allies of UPA, disregarding the interests of the crores of people in the country. It was done when the Parliament was not in session.

Now the second instalment of anti-people reforms have been decided by the Cabinet, again when the Parliament is not in session.  Cabinet has  yesterday ( 04-10-2012) decided to increase the FDI from 26% to 49% in Insurance sector and introduce FDI in Pension sector, also to 49%, though not specifically mentioned.

There is no necessity for allowing or increasing FDI in both the sectors. The first is intended to help the private insurance companies to mope up money and also to kill the LIC and General Insurance companies, which are performing excellently and giving the best service to the customers. Despite entries of many private companies these PSUs have kept their market share to a very high position. The government is getting high dividend, taxes etc from these PSUs. Now the government wants to cut them for the benefit of the private companies. The present position will also result in better customer service since private companies are only interested in profit-making and not on social security to the customers.

The central/state government employees, PSU employees and other workers who are getting pension have been continuously fighting against the anti-worker PFRDA Bill which has reduced the statutory pension in to contributory pension. Instead of getting half the salary as pension, the Ne w Pension Scheme (NPS) and Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) implemented for the Central/state government employees and PSU employees respectively have resulted in the pension reduced to a pittance of even less than Rs.1000 for the majority of the retirees. The Parliament march organised in last November has shown the anger of the workers against the PFRDA and their determination to fight the same.

The UPA II government could not pass both the Insurance Bill and PFRDA Bill in the Parliament so far. But now the cabinet has taken the decision while the Parliament is not in session. This completely against the democratic process. The workers and the people have to organise and fight and defeat these anti-people measures.