Protests against Dismal Flood Relief Operations in Bihar

Bihar, along with some areas in other States like Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, is severely flood-affected. The situation in Seemanchal (Bihar) is especially horrifying. According to government statistics 18 districts—Kishanganj, Arariya, Purnea, Katihar, Eastern Champaran, Western Champaran, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Saran, Supoul, Madhepura, Saharsa and Khagariya—are flood-affected, a total of 341 people are dead, and crores of people have suffered loss and destruction of property. These are government statistics; the actual figures could be much higher.

Gorakhpur Horror: Slaughter Of Innocents

In the still eyes of Gorakhpur’s dead babies, we can see a question, an accusation – can Modi and Yogi face it? That question is: Why is hate-mongering a political priority – over and above the health of children? Why are cows, temple, Vande Mataram, love jehad the priority – not health and hospitals?

Riots By Ram Rahim Supporters: Khattar and Modi Are Responsible

The courage showed by two women has resulted in justice. Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been sentenced to twenty years in prison for raping two women sadhvis in the custody of his Dera. He continues to face charges of having a brother of one of the rape victims as well as a journalist who reported the rapes murdered, as well as charges of forced castration of 400 men.

Amarnath Killings: Rebuff Communal And Divisive Propaganda

A heinous terrorist attack on 10 July killed seven Amarnath pilgrims in the Kashmir Valley. In an encouraging affirmation of humanity against hate, this attack has met with universal condemnation and protests by ordinary people from the Kashmir Valley to various Indian towns and cities.

Basirhat Riots: Reject Hate, Strengthen Harmony

An offensive social media post triggering tension and violence is an unfortunate but fairly common occurrence in today’s India. But the story unfolding in and around the sleepy small town of Rudrapur in Baduria block near Basirhat and its ramifications for the whole of West Bengal go way beyond the common script or trajectory of communal tension we have grown accustomed to witness in our turbulent times. The derogatory post shared on Facebook by a school-going student Souvik Sarkar understandably offended the Muslim community and large-scale street protests ensued. The administration intervened and the boy was arrested by the police. The story could have ended here but the vested interests would not let go of this opportunity to stoke the communal fire and polarise the Bengal society. In an ominous echo of the lynch mob clamour for blood, a mob attacked Souvik’s house and set it on fire. Baduria and Deganga blocks and several pockets of Basirhat subdivision were gripped by communal violence.

Justice For Zafar: Freedom From Bullying

Mohammad Akhlaque, Majlum Ansari, Imteyaz Khan, Pehlu Khan, Sheikh Naim, Mohammad Halim, Mohammad Sajjad, Uttam Verma, Ganesh Gupta and now Zafar Hussein. Yet another horrific case of mob lynching, the second successive incident in Vasundhara Raje’s Rajasthan in last three months. The previous cases of lynching in UP, Jharkhand or Rajasthan were typically all triggered by orchestrated ‘rumours’ – whether of beef consumption, cattle-lifting or child-lifting. There was however no rumour that led to the lynching of Zafar Hussein at Pratapgarh in the early morning of June 16. Zafar had to pay with his life for trying to defend the dignity of poor women from Kachchi Basti, Mahtab Shah Colony, Pratapgarh. He is perhaps the first victim of the Modi government’s flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

All India Outrage Day: Anger Against Demonetisation Disaster Spills Out On Streets

WITH EVERY PASSING DEMONETISED DAY, the distress of common people continues to mount. More than 80 people have lost their lives due to demonetisation. Farmers are suffering devastation, workers are losing jobs, and people are denied healthcare. But the Prime Minister has not displayed any interest in acknowledging the colossal disaster that demonetisation has proved to be. Instead of alleviating people’s suffering, he launched a self-serving ‘survey’ in a personal app, and promptly proceeded to claim that the app-survey showed that demonetisation had the approval of 92% of Indians. This, in spite of the fact that a mere 17% of Indians use smart phones and a tiny fraction of these participated in the survey, and moreover that the survey was designed to elicit only approving responses, failing to provide a ‘disagree’ option on its most crucial questions!

Long Live Fidel Castro!

CPI(ML) dips its flag in respectful homage to Fidel Castro Ruz, the iconic leader of the Cuban revolution and towering figure who inspired anti-imperialist fighters the world over.

Fidel Castro led the successful Cuban revolution that overthrew the repressive Batista regime, and defended the tiny nation of revolutionary Cuba in the teeth of successive US regimes that were determined to destroy it. Fidel himself triumphed over 600 assassination attempts by the CIA, passing away at the ripe old age of 90. It is ironic that the new elected President of the USA, Donald Trump, has branded Fidel ‘a brutal dictator,’ given that Trump’s own country, the supposed champion of ‘democracy,’ resorted to attempted assassinations of world leaders whose politics did not suit the USA.

Fidel’s own stubborn survival and resistance to murderous imperialists reflected the revolutionary grit and determination of Cuba itself and its people. Shackled by imperialist embargoes, Cuba still managed to create systems of universal healthcare and education that shame much more prosperous capitalist countries including its big-brotherly neighbour the USA. Not only that, Cuba stretched its own meagre resources to export free healthcare and education to other needy countries of Latin America and the world. With Fidel at the helm, Cuba also supported the anti-colonial struggles, practicing internationalism with all its might.

Fidel Castro’s life and legacy call to be celebrated, not mourned. Even after his passing, Fidel’s legacy will continue to inspire revolutionaries, socialists and anti-imperialists all over the world.

The red flag will fly at half mast at all CPI(ML) party offices to honour the memory of Fidel Castro.

500 और 1000 के नोटों का विमुद्रीकरण : आम जनता के लिए आर्थिक आपातकाल

– दीपंकर भट्टाचार्य –

9 नवम्बर वह दिन था जब मोदी सरकार के आदेश पर एनडीटीवी इण्डिया चैनल को एक दिन के लिए बंद किया जाना था ताकि मीडिया को ‘राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा‘ और ‘जिम्मेदार पत्रकारिता‘ का पाठ पढ़ाया जा सके। लेकिन इस अघोषित आपातकाल को पूरे देश में विरोध का सामना करना पड़ा, फलस्वरूप सरकार पीछे हटने पर मजबूर हुई और यह प्रतिबंध लागू होने से रुक गया। जनता इसके बाद राहत की सांसें ले पाती, कि नरेन्द्र मोदी ने अचानक एक घोषणा कर दी वह भी ‘आर्थिक आपातकाल‘ से कम नहीं है। 8 नवम्बर की मध्य रात्रि से 500 और 1000 के नोट गैरकानूनी घोषित कर दिये गये। एक ही झटके में सरकार ने 14 लाख करोड़ रुपये यानि प्रचलन में मौजूद कुल भारतीय मुद्रा के 86 प्रतिशत को रद्दी कागज में बदल दिया।

Jan Ekta Rally to Commemorate 6th Death Anniversary of Com. Ram Naresh Ram

A Jan Ekta Rally ( People’s Unity Rally) was organized in Piro on 26 October 2016 to commemorate the 6^th anniversary of Com. Ram Naresh Ram, the towering figure of social change and founder of CPI(ML) in Bhojpur. The rally, attended by large numbers of poor, minorities and justice-loving people was organized on the issues of communal harmony, democracy and people’s rights. Party leaders Rameshwar Prasad, Mahboob Alam, Sudama Prasad and many others were present in the rally.