Red Salute to Cuba on National Day!

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in History

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July 26 is the National day of Cuba. This date has a glorious history. It was on 26th July in 1953 that Fidel Castro, Che Guivera, Raul Castro and other revolutionaries attacked the Moncada Army Garrison of Santiago de Cuba in their effort to oust  dictator Batista who was ruling the country. Though this effort was not successful, within a few years Batista was compelled to run away defeated by the revolutionaries and  independence was declared on 1st January 1959. Fidel Castro became the first President of the Republic of Cuba.

July 26th was declared as the National Day of Cuba by the Cuban Government in memory of the attack on the Moncada Army Garrison, which heralded the revolution in Cuba.

NCCPA leaders meet at New Delhi

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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After the Parliament March today, the leaders and representatives of the NCCPA and AIBDPA who were present met at Ambedkar Bhawan and discussed the future programmes. The meeting called upon all state units to organise March to Raj Bhawan and submit memorandum to the Governors on the 19 point charter of the Pensioners. ( In Kerala, the March was held today very successfully).

The meeting also decided to authorise the CHQ to discuss with the Confederation and synchronise the future programme including the dharna at District level/state level etc. Coms.S.K.Vyas, Secretary General and  V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron of NCCPA were present along with other office-bearers.

Central employees and pensioners march to Parliament

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The March to the Parliament by the Central Government employees and pensioners held to-day saw workers and pensioners from all parts of the country participating in a massive way. Thousands marched through the Parliament Street where they were stopped by the large police contingent. The rally was held there which was inaugurated by Com. Tapan Sen, MP and the General Secretary of CITU. He assured full support to the genuine demands raised in the March and assured that he will take the same with the government.

Coms. S.K.Vyas, K.K.N.Kutty and other leaders of the Confederation and NCCPA addressed the rally. Myself participated on behalf of the All India BSNL – DOT Pensioners Association.

The Rally took the decision to continue the agitation and organise a Token Strike on 12th December 2012, if the issues are not settled by that time.

The last journey of Captain Lakshmi Saghal

25 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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Kanpur, July 24 : As a huge crowd bid her the final farewell, veteran freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal’s body was today taken to the GSVM medical college here where it would be donated for research.
The body of Sehgal, who passed away yesterday at the age of 97, was taken in a procession from the McRobert hospital.
Suhasini Ali, daughter of the freedom fighter and CPI(M) leader said, “as per her last wish we have donated her eyes and her body would be donated for medical research and handed over to the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College”.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, CITU general secretary Tapan Sen, AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman, CPI(M) Central Committee member P K Sreemathy paid their last respects.

Also present were Comrade Lakshmi Sehgal’s daughters, Subhashini Ali and Aneesa Puri and other relatives.

Thousands of common people, including workers, women, school children and people from all walks of life participated in the last journey.

Political leaders from all parties like SP, BJP, BSP, Congress also paid homage to the departed revolutionary leader.
Union Minister Vyalar Ravi, Sehgal’s filmmaker grandson Shad Ali and other prominent media personalities paid their tributes at her last farewell.
Karat remembered the leader as a “highly politically motivated human being who fought injustice wherever she saw it…She served people with every ounce of strength”.
Yesterday, after her demise, leaders from across the political spectrum lauded Sehgal’s contribution to the country.
Sehgal (97), who was part of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army, breathed her last at a private hospital at 11.20 AM yesterday.     She was admitted to the hospital on July 19 after she suffered a heart attack at her residence in the Civil Lines area here.

Celebration of a birhday – Thank You comrades!

24 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in General

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Today early morning, I received a SMS with Best Wishes for a very Happy Platinum Birth Day. I was surprised, since my Birthday as per office records were 12th June. Then I remembered. The real birthday was only 24th July. 12th June was the date given by mistake or so, at the time of joining  the school. Even I had forgotten the real date. I thank Comrade for having  reminded me and wished me first  on my birthday.

But this was not all. I was attending the T.Nadu Circle Conference at Tirupur. All of a sudden a birthday cake was brought to the stage.. I had no other choice. Probably to the best of my memory, this was the first time that my birthday was celebrated in this way. I was really embarrassed. But I also participated in the happiness of all the comrades present. I thank the circle union, Reception Committee and all comrades for the love and affection shown to me.

I thank the large number of comrades who have called or sent Best Wishes by SMS, E-mail etc.

I am still at a loss to understand  how all of  a sudden my birthday was known to so many. Probably the latest technology has done the trick. Of course, it is also a reminder that ‘you are 75′. Can I add ’75 years young’?

The T.Nadu untouchability Eradication Front

24 Tuesday Jul 2012

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The Circle Conference of BSNLEU, T.Nadu Circle started to-day, 24th June, at Tirupur. As usual, flag hoisting, homage to martyrs, Inaugural session all were systematically held.

In the evening, an open session was held inaugurated by Com. P. Sampath, senior trade union leader as also the Convener of the T.Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF). In his speech he explained the inhuman treatment meted out to the dalits and the system of untouchability existing in many places even now. The action programme organised under the TNEUF was also explained. The full house with more than 1000 comrades, heard it in rapt attention. It touched the inner cord of the workers. At the end of the speech he appealed for generous donations for continuing the programmes.

There was immediate and very positive reaction. Comrades started coming to the stage and giving donation one after another. Some comrades went to the participants and collected there also. I also donated Rs. 1000. After about 10-15 minutes the collection was over. The donation received was more than 47,000. The Circle union added the balance and an amount of Rs. 50,000 was handed over to Com.Sampath, convener of the TNUEF.

Everybody appreciated the generous donation. More than that the workers felt a commitment to fight to eradicate untouchability and to fight for the down-trodden.

Pranab is President – What we can expect.

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in General, Uncategorized

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Shri Pranab Mukherjee, one of the senior politicians in the country with about four decades of experience in the central government behind him is the new President of India. I heartily congratulate him on his election to the highest office in the country.

The President  is the constitutional head and is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, including army, navy and airforce. But the fact, as every body knows, is that he is the nominal head only and have to generally function on the advice of the Central Cabinet. He is non-political but has to act as per the advice of the government run by the elected political party/parties.

I had the opportunity to meet him three – four times during the 1970s when he was the State Minister of Finance ( or Dy. Minister of Finance?). It was in connection with the upgradation of Calicut City from a C class city to B Class for the grant of House rent Allowance for the Central Govt. Employees etc.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers took up the issue with the government. 5 lakh population is required for declaring a city to B Class but Calicut was having only 3,33,000 population at that time. But there were other considerations like urban agglomeration etc. As the Convener of the Confederation, along with other comrades, we met Shri V.V.Giri, President of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and the concerned Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. And within three years, with the same population, we got the city upgraded. The decision was taken by the latter.

I hope that Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as President, will keep up the high tradition of the post of President and use his high office for improving the conditions of the poor and working people of the country.

I wish him every success in his new responsibility.

Freedom Fighter Captain Lakshmi Saghal expired

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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Comrade Captain Lakshmi Saghal, veteran freedom fighter and CPI(M) veteran,  passed away today ( 23rd July ) at Kanpur  at the age of 97. She was ailing for a few weeks.

Captain Lakshmi was born at Madras in 1914 as  the daughter of freedom fighter Ammukkutty Swaminathan and B.Swaminathan . After   passing MBBS  from the Madras University, along with medical practice she involved in the freedom movement. She went to Rangoon and joined the Indian National Army (INA) of Subhas Chandra Bose and was the captain of the Rani Jhansi Regiment which marched to India for fighting the British. She was captured and almost killed. She headed the medical treatment to the thousands who were wounded in the war.

After marriage with INA leader Prem Kumar Saighal, who was also in INA. Later she settled at Kanpur along with her daughter Com. Subhashini Ali, who is the Central Committee Member of the CPI(M) and also a former MP. She continued to serve the public in her clinic at Kanpur for decades till she fell sick a few weeks back.

Captain Lakshmi was a leader of the women’s movement and was a top leader of the CPI(M). She was the Presidential Candidate of the Left parties in 2002. She was awarded  Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

I had the chance to meet her and speak to her a few times when I went to her house at Kanpur and also at the Party Congresses/conferences. She used to talk to me  in Malayalam on those occasions which was very encouraging to me.

Her passing away is a great loss to the CPI(M), the Left, the women’s movement and all progressive forces. She was one of the freedom fighters still left amongst us. She was an inspiration to thousands for her selfless service to the nation and the Left movement. Her life story is the history of a valiant freedom fighter and a social workers who till her death served the public in her clinic.

I express my deep grief and convey heartfelt condolences to Com. Subhashini Ali, other family members, comrades and friends in their great loss.  Red salute to Com. Lakshmi Saighal!

Stop the move for FDI in retail trade

22 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Politics India

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The UPA II government is in an aggressive mood to impose the anti-people reforms, especially after the criticisms from US President Obama in this respect. The Left and democratic parties have strongly criticised the move and has asked the Prime Minister to stop this anti-people moves.

Following is the text of the letter addressed to the Prime Minister on the reported moves to revive the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail trade. The signatories to the letter are: Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party, Shri Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI(M), Shri S Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary of the CPI, Shri Danish Ali, General Secretary of the JD(S), Shri Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary of the AIFB and Shri Abani Roy, Secretary of the RSP. The letter was delivered at the PM’s office on July 21.

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Dear Dr. Manmohan Singhji,

Reports are appearing that the Government of India is going to revive the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail trade. This decision was suspended earlier due to widespread opposition in the country.

The Indian retail sector is the second largest employer in the country after agriculture. It employs over four crore persons. Most of these are small unorganised or self-employed retailers. Entry of MNC supermarket and hypermarket chains would cause severe displacement of these small and unorganised shopkeepers and traders. The entry of the giant Wal-Mart supermarket chain would have a disastrous impact. According to one estimate, a Wal-Mart supermarket in India would displace over 1300 small retail stores and render around 3900 persons jobless.

In a situation when employment growth has slowed down according to the National Sample Survey data of 2009-10, the entry of foreign supermarkets would further aggravate the employment situation.

We urge the government not to open up the retail trade to FDI any further. Political parties across the spectrum are opposed to this move. Many state governments have also stated their opposition.

In the absence of a wide-ranging consensus, we request you not to proceed with this decision.

Save BSNL – There is a big role for the workers

22 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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After sustained struggles and pressure by the JAC / Joint Forum, the BSNL management has been compelled to procure equipment on a fast track basis. Although not in adequate quantities, telephone instruments, cables, drop-wires, Broadband Modems and GSM equipments are on the supply line to the field level. In some places they have reached, it is yet to reach in many other places.

After continued struggle we could obtain these. Now it is the responsiblity of the executives and non-executives to ensure that the development and expansion takes at a fast rate. This is our first real chance to improve the services and expansion, since earlier we were completely handicapped with the lack of all kinds of necessary equipments.

I hope that the SSA level management also will rise to the occasion. It is their job to ensure the supply of the equipments and motivate the workers for more and more expansion. The workers should take it as a challenge to increase the connections in mobile, landline, broadband and other services also better service. My suggestion is that each and every week the SSA level management and representatives of workers should meet, discuss the plans and implement it effectively as a crusade. The challenge of improving the services, providing more connections and getting more revenue is the task of the moment. Let us all pull together and restore the glory of BSNL.