Category Archives: General

Roll Back These Anti-People Measures – CPI(M)

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

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I am reproducing the press statement issued by the CPI(M) demanding roll-back of the anti-people measures:

The UPA government has been plunged into a crisis after the  announcement by the Trinamul Congress of the withdrawal from the government and  the UPA.

The Manmohan Singh government had announced FDI in retail  trade, sharply increased the price of diesel, limited the supply of cooking gas  cylinders and initiated disinvestment in some of the top public sector  enterprises. These policies and measures are totally against the interests of  the people of the country.

None of these measures have the support of parties across  the political spectrum. It is clear now with the stand taken by the allies of  the Congress in the UPA that a majority of the members of Parliament are against  these policies. The Congress-led UPA government does not have the mandate or the  right to push ahead with these policies.

The CPI(M) will intensify the struggle against these  measures to get them reversed. All parties who have come out against these  policies should support the all India protest action on September 20. Unless the  Manmohan Singh government rolls back these anti-people measures, it has no right  to continue in office.

 

School in toilet – The reality even after 50 years of Independence.

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

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In today’s Times of India, Bangalore Edition, a news item is published which portrays the sad plight of the education system in the country. An elementary school in Hanumantnagar, Hubli, the home town of the Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish, is functioning in a toilet. There is no drinking water facility, no play-ground and no other facilities required for a school. A photo of the toilet building is also published.

This is not an isolated case. In many states, there are schools without even class rooms, only a small room for the office. Children study in the open air, below the trees. Schools are not there for many miles in the tribal areas. Illiteracy in the country is still very high even compared to many African countries.

On the one side the government is spending millions by granting huge subsidies to the corporates and  big business for maximising their profit. But on the other side, it does not feel the necessity even to provide the basic necessities to the downtrodden.

This is the condition in our country even after 65 years of Independence. It is not only political Independence that India wants, it should be financial and social Independence also so that the crores of underprivileged in the country feel that freedom has something for them also.

FDI in retail, aviation – Applause from US, India Inc

17 Monday Sep 2012

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As expected, the US has applauded the government of India for the increased FDI in aviation, 51% FDI in multi-brand retail trade etc. It congratulated India for the ‘Big Bang Reforms”. Indian big business has also heartily welcomed the decisions including the rise in price of diesel.

The government will be happy. It wants the applaud of the imperialists, the MNCs and the big business. It is not worried about the misery of the people. Is it aware of the strong protests by the people all over the country? Is it aware of the protests from not only the opposition parties, but its allies also?

A roll back of the prices can not be expected from this government. The only way is to protest strongly and continue sustained agitation against the anti-worker policies. The government should be taught a hard lesson.

Is the governments becoming intolerant to criticisms?

10 Monday Sep 2012

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The recent arrests of reporters, journalists and cartoonists against write-ups, cartoon etc. point towards the intolerance of the government against criticism. This is completely negation of the right of people in a democracy to express their opinion against the policies of the government.

The latest case in the arrest of Assem Trivedi cartoonist by the Mumbai Police for a cartoon depicting  the coal gate scam exhibited at the Mumbai Maidan at the time of fast by Anna Hazare.

All democracy loving people should protest against this attack on the freedom of people to express their rightful opinion.

 

Rich PM, Richer Ministers – A Cabinet of crorepatis!

10 Monday Sep 2012

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According to a report in the Economic Times today, based on the posting in the PMO website, India is having a cabinet of crorepatis. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is also in the list of crorepatis. See below:

1. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime minister    Rs.  10.37 crore

2. Praful Patel, Heavy Industries Minister  Rs.  52.00 crore

3. Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister         Rs.  22.0  crore

4. Kapil Sibal, Communications, HR            Rs.  45.33 crore

5. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Home Minister     Rs.  15       crore

6. P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister          Rs.   17      crore

7. Ajit Singh, Civil Aviation Minister            Rs.   13     crore

8. M.K.Alagiri, Chemicals Fertiliser Min.    Rs.     9.5  crore

9. Pawan Kumar Bansal Parliamentary Aff.Rs.     6.65 crore

10.Ghulam Nabi Azad, Health Minister       Rs.     3.42 crore

11.Salman Khurshid Law Minister                Rs.     3.5 crore

12.Kumari Selja,  Housing Minister              Rs.    12.25 crore

13.Kamal Nath, Urban Dev. Minister          Rs.    13.0   crore

14.S.M.Krishna, Extl. Affairs Minister          Rs.      1.89 crore

15.Subodh Kant sahay, Tourism minister    Rs.    70.74 crore

If all these important ministers are crorepatis and many others also, it can aptly be called as crorepati cabinet. As such, it is not surprising that they maximum look after the interests of crorepatis and corporates. In fact, more subsidies have been given by this cabinet to a few thousand/hundred corporates that to the crores of common people of the country. Not only scams in 2G and Coal blocks, but also in every sector since the scams benefit the corporates and the crorepatis.

Comments by Washington Post and angry reaction by PMO

07 Friday Sep 2012

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Today’s newspapers focussed about the angry reaction of PMO  to the article in Washington Post mentioning Dr. Manmohan Singh as a tragic and silent PM who heads a government of corruption.

Indian newspapers have criticised the Prime Minister more than this several times. The PMO has not issued letters like to them. Is it that the PMO is rattled because it is a paper in US, which is very dear the PMO, which has attacked the PM? Or is it that the PMO can not tolerate criticism?

Anyhow, the PMO seems to have made a fool of itself by making the issue as a prestige one.

No rain , more rain, floods – will the govt.s wake up?

07 Friday Sep 2012

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Nature is unpredictable. It was predicted that this time rains will be less. But no rain came for a long period. Then it started drizzling. Now it is raining cats and dogs. Many states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, M.P. etc. are finding their rivers flooded and overflowing and many dams had to be opened fully to allow the extra water to go. Villages and towns are under water for days. There is no way for the flood  water to go since the gutters etc. are blocked. The people are suffering.

But the government, corporations, municipalities etc. are sleeping. Now and then there are floods. But there is no regular system to meet the crisis. They have to wake up!

 

Govt. move to sell PSU lands

30 Thursday Aug 2012

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The Department of Public Enterprises has moved a Cabinet Note proposing to create a Public Sector Development Authority for unlocking the prime lands owned by the Public Sector Enterprises of the Central Government. These lands are mostly in the central place of the cities and towns and will fetch high prices. The Corporates and the Private companies have been pressurizing the government to sell these lands for real estate purposes etc. It is suggested that the proceeds of the sale would be used to make the loss-making PSUs to become financially viable. But the fact is that as in the case of mines, water, spectrum etc. the land also will be sold at cheap rates to the corporates resulting in windfall gains and heavy loss to the government and the nation.

The proposal has to be seen as part of the neo-liberal policy of the government using the nation’s assets for maximization of profit for the corporates and the MNCs.

 

Increase FDI, Reduce subsidies on diesel and LPG – Standing Committee

30 Thursday Aug 2012

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The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has recommeded to improve the FDI, It has also suggested reduction in the subsidy on diesel and LPG. But it is not unanimous recommendations. The M.P.s from the Left Parties who are members of the Standing Committee have strongly opposed these suggestions.

Already the subsidies on petrol, diesel, LPG have been reduced. The Committee’s recommendation, if accepted, will raise the price of these utilities and will cut in to the already cut expenditure of the poor. The Chairman of the Committee is former Finance Minister and BJP leader Shri Yashwant Sinha. Both the Congress and BJP are together is reducing the subsidies to the poor. It is only the Left Parties which stands up for the downtrodden and toiling masses.