Attack on Shabnam Hashmi Condemned

THROUGH a statement issued from New Delhi on April 28, 2014, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) strongly condemned the attack on Shabnam Hashmi in Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. She was attacked at about 12.30 p m on April 28 while she with her associates was distributing leaflets brought out by JAVAB (Janvadi Vichar Andolan Bharat) barely 100 metres from the Gadaganj police station in side the Rae Bareli constituency.

Udupi Sri Krishna Math Resorts to Caste Discrimination Once Again

ANOTHER incident of ‘pankti bedha’ came to light recently at Udupi Sri Krishna math (temple). The practice of serving food (prasada) to Brahmins at one place and to all other castes separately is called ‘pankti bedha’. The discriminatory practice of ‘pankti bedha’ is being practiced at Udupi Sri Krishna math inspite of being opposed by progressive sections and organisations.

Appeal the Chundur case in the SC

The following is the statement issued by the CPI(M) AP Committee on April 24, 2012:

IT is unfortunate the High Court of Andhra Pradesh gave its judgement to quash the sentences granted to the culprits by the Special Court in the Chundur Dalit Massacre case. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), AP Committee demands the government to appeal the case in the Supreme Court.

NPRD Condemns Modi’s Insensitive Remarks

THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) strongly condemned the views expressed by Narendra Modi at Jamshedpur on April 10 while campaigning for the BJP there.

Dalits, Elections… Ambedkar & Bhagat Singh

HOWEVER we may wish, we cannot do away with some formalities, more so if they present with an opportunity to be in news. Formalities like Jaitley and Amarinder Singh greeting each other, Digvijay Singh and Sushma Swaraj exchanging pleasantries or Modi accompanying Advani to file nomination. Similarly, on every April 14, Ambedkar's birth anniversary, leaders cutting across political divisions rush to pay their tributes.

Caste, Patriarchy and the Hindutva Model of Governance

AS the election campaign reaches its crescendo, the strategy of the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, is becoming more and more apparent. It is attempting to create a rainbow alliance of the middle castes and dalits in order to ensure that it reaches the half-way mark and does not need the help of those outside the NDA to make a government at the centre. In order to do this, it is stitching up alliances with prominent OBC and dalit groups. Thus it has inducted a senior dalit leader, Udit Raj, into its ranks and engineered an alliance with the LJP in order to make inroads into dalit votes.

WFTU Calls for Struggle against Unemployment

THE presidential council of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has called for a worldwide struggle against unemployment and for the strengthening of solidarity actions in the struggle against capitalist and imperialist exploitation.
The meeting of the council, which is the highest policy making body of the only class oriented international trade union organisation, was held in Rome on February 14 and 15, 2014. The meeting was hosted by the USB of Italy and presided by WFTU president Muhammad, Shaaban Azouz, who is also the president of GFTU, Syria.

Against Injustice to Mid-Day Meal Workers

THE All India Coordination Committee of Mid-Day Meal Workers, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has strongly condemned the injustice meted out by the UPA government to the 26 lakh mid-day meal workers of the country.

Malicious Reporting

IN a letter written to the editor of Malayala Manorama on March 8, 2014, Hannan Mollah, former Lok Sabha member and a member of the CPI(M), took strong exception to a news story published by the said paper regarding the candidature of Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The text of the letter is reproduced here.
“This is to invite your attention to the report appeared in the Malayala Manorama daily dated March 6, 2014 regarding the candidature of Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, which I represented for eight terms.

Workers Support Economic Model’s Updating

Below we reproduce the slightly abridged speech given by General Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and president of the Councils of State and Ministers, during the closing session of the 20th Congress of the Cuban Workers’ Federation (CTC), on February 22, 2014.
Subheadings have been added.

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