Condition of student hostels in Tamil Nadu pathetic: SFI

The condition of several students' hostels under the purview of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, and the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Departments are pathetic, according to the Students' Federation of India (SFI).

 

Addressing a press meet in this connection here on Saturday, SFI State president K.S. Kanakaraj said many students staying in the hostels across the State would come together in Chennai and take out a rally on February 9 to draw attention to the issue.

According to the SFI, nearly 600 government hostels were functioning out of rented premises. Inadequate space and bathroom and toilet facilities, poor quality of food and the lack of a systematic grievance redressal mechanism made life challenging for most students, Mr. Kanakaraj said. “The amount sanctioned by the government for expenses on food is Rs.15 per school student per day, and about Rs.18 per college student per day. With the price rise we are seeing today, how will these be sufficient,” he asked.

Students were unable to get the necessary nutrition and were forced to find part-time jobs. “We see many students working part time with catering service providers at weddings. They go and help the cooks by serving and cleaning so that they can have that one good meal,” Mr. Kanakaraj said. To a question on hostels being overcrowded in the city and relatively emptier in rural areas, Mr. Kanakaraj said that in many hostels, particularly in rural areas, students were forced into labour. “From fetching drinking water to cleaning hostels, students are asked to do all the work. Some find this tedious and go away, at the cost of their education.” CPI (M) State Secretary G. Ramakrishnan will address the rally.

Anti-Price- Rise Campaign in Kerala

Left Democratic front in Kerala has decided launch Statewide campaigns from 3rd to 9th February. On 7^th, 8^th February the agitation will be before the Central Government offices, in every Assembly constituencies. LDF has decided to launch two Regional Jathas in the State. It will give wide propaganda against the anti-people policies and attitude of the Central Government.  The Jathas also give wide propaganda about the over all achievement of the State LDF Government.  Jatha will start on 18th February and ends on 2nd March. State Food Minister Com. C.Divakaran (CPI) and Home Minister Com.Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (CPM) are the leaders of two separate jathas.  The inauguration of the jatha programme lead by Com. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan CPI(M)  will be done by Com. Chandrappan Secretary, Kerala State Council CPI and the jatha programme lead by Com. C. Divakaran (CPI) will be inaugurated by Com. Vijayan Secretary CPI(M) Kerala State Committee.

Apart from these campaigns the left related mass organisations are launching campaigns upto  grass root level in connection with the oncoming Assembly election in the State.

CPI-CPI(M) Week long Agitation against Price rise-Punjab

The CPI and CPI(M) units of Punjab will observe Anti-price-rise Week, which have hard hit the people, particularly the poor and middle class people, from 3rd to 9th of February. The protest week will include picketing before the Central Govt. Offices, demonstrations, dharnas and rallies.  This decision was taken by meeting of Co-ordination Committee of CPI and CPI(M) in Punjab which was attended by Dr. Joginder Dayal, Member National Executive CPI, Com. Charan Singh Virdi, State Secretary of CPI(M), Com. Bhupinder Samber, State Secretary of CPI and Com. Lehmbar Singh Taggar, Member State Secretariat of CPI(M).

The meeting was of considered opinion that people are suffering due to the relentless increase in the prices of food items. Onions and vegetables have gone beyond the reach of common people. While the people groaning under steep price rise, the country is witnessing rampant corruption and plunder of   resources.

Yet, the UPA government remains callous to the plight of the people. False assurances are given that the prices will come down within a short period. The government has not taken any effective measures to curb price rise. On the contrary, its policies have contributed to inflation.

The meeting of main left parties in Punjab demanded:

1. Prohibit forward trading in food items and essential commodities

2. Universalize the Public Distribution System; distribute the excess stocks in FCI godowns at BPL rates.

          3. Take firm measures against hoarding.

4. Provide remunerative prices to farmers and inputs at reasonable cost to boost productivity  in agriculture.

5. End the deregulation of petroleum products; roll back the budgetary hikes on petroleum products and rationalize the tax structure on petroleum products.

         6. Don't allow foreign capital in retail trade.

         7. More budgetary allocation for agrarian sector.

The meeting directed its district units of both the parties to hold joint meetings for preparation of the agitation and appealed to other left and democratic sections and forces to participate and raise voice against the unprecedented price rise. The meeting also decided to support the Delhi March of workers on 23rd February and instructed its units to actively participate and support the Delhi March.

Nation bogged down by inflation, corruption: Sitaram Yechury

Holding the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre responsible for rampant corruption and the unprecedented rise in prices in recent months, Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), has said that the current gloomy political and social realities have prevented the country from achieving progress to its potential.

 

“The rampant corruption at the highest level, the alarming price levels of essential commodities and the Union government's moves to surrender our economic sovereignty and thus downgrade India's stature to that of a junior partner to imperialistic nations have prevented creating a better India that we are capable of doing,” Mr. Yechury said here on Thursday.

He was here to deliver a speech on “Role of Left parties in Modern Indian politics” as part of a history seminar by the EMS Study Centre hosted by the Kasaragod district unit of the CPI(M). “The UPA government is now in the process of turning the people of India into IPL and BPL categories as the growth indices are indicating the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor,” Mr. Yechury said, scoffing at the high-priced auction of cricketers ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches, which, he said, has turned cricket in to a game of the affluent sections.

Expressing grave concern over the 2G spectrum scam, in which the former Telecommunications Minister A. Raja was arrested, he said the shocking disclosures had serious ramifications as such developments often prevented the government from mopping up funds for initiating welfare and development projects. The higher growth rate had only led to a widening gap between the miniscule rich and the poor. Clarifying his point, Mr. Yechury said a high-level committee chaired by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi mooted the idea of food security for all in the country, the cost of which had been pegged at Rs.88,000 crore, which was exactly half the Rs.1.76 lakh crore the country lost in the 2G scam.

(courtesy The Hindu)

The revolution in Egypt will continue until the demands of the masses are fulfilled

Statement issued by the Communist Party of Egypt

February 1, 2011 -- The moment of truth is approaching. This is the decisive moment for the Egyptian popular forces for change; to topple the Mubarak regime. It seems that the imperialists, and their American masters in particular, are lifting their hands from him after the continuation of revolution everywhere in Egypt.

Today millions emerge to demand the departure of Mubarak. They will prevent all the conspiracies of the dictator and his gang of spies to thwart the revolution and overcome them.

The formation of a committee, which enjoys the confidence of the people and the demonstrators, is crucial to achieve the demands of the political, economic and social revolution, and we emphasise the basic demands presented by the national forces to the deputies of the people's parliament:

1. Dismissal of Mubarak and the formation of a presidential council for a transitional period of limited duration.

2. Forming a coalition government to administer the country during the transitional period.

3. To convene the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for the country based on the principle of the sovereignty of the nation and ensure the devolution of power within the framework of a democratic just civil state.

4. Prosecute those responsible for hundreds of deaths and injuries of revolutionary martyrs and victims of oppression as well as ensuring the prosecution of those responsible for plundering the wealth of the Egyptian people.

5. Long live the revolution of the Egyptian people

SFI cadres marches in support of democracy in Egypt

Activists of the Students' Federation of India staged a protest near the Egyptian Embassy here on Tuesday to express solidarity with the “Million March” in Cairo and to support the “ongoing movement for democracy in Egypt”.

Holding placards denouncing the establishment in Egypt, students marched towards the Egyptian Embassy in the afternoon. The demonstration culminated in a public meeting near the Embassy where All-India Democratic Women's Association member Subhashini Ali, Jana Natya Manch member Sudhanva Deshpande and former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Albeena Shakil addressed the meeting.

The speakers expressed solidarity with the protesting people and condemned the repression by the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. The role of the United States in the Arab region and its support to the regime was denounced.

The speakers emphasised the “increasing inequalities and anti-people policies under globalisation” as the main factor behind the protests. The Indian Government was also criticised for not showing “support for the pro-democracy struggle.”

“The strategic alliance” of the Indian Government along with the United States and Israel was cited as the cause for lack of support for the people of Egypt.

TMC-Maoist Nexus -- Letter to Home Minister

CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member and Rajya Sabha MP, Sitaram Yechury, has in a letter written to the Home Minister, Shri P Chidambaran drawn attention to yet another serious development regarding the Maoist-TMC nexus in West Bengal. The full text of the letter is being released herewith.

Shri P. Chidambaram

Minister for Home Affairs

Government of India

New Delhi

Dear Shri Chidambaramji,

In continuation of our communication on behalf of the Left parties and other secular opposition parties with you on January 6, 2011, I am compelled to draw your attention to yet another serious development regarding the Maoist-TMC nexus in West Bengal.

Yesterday, January 31, the police forces in West Bengal had raided the so-called relief camp run by the Trinamul Congress at the Municipal Guest House in Midnapur town of West Midnapur district. Two Maoist squad members – Amiya Mahato and Asim Mahato – were arrested. Both these have several cases against them. Particularly, both of them are said to have been involved in the attack on the EFR camp in Silda where over two dozens of EFR jawans were gruesomely murdered by the Maoists. One of them also was very close to Kishanji and acted as his personal guard and courier.

More startling is the fact that the Trinamul Congress leadership with its local activists tried their level best to stop the police in their action to nab the wanted Maoist squad members. Not only that, your colleague the Hon’ble Railway Minister has tried to trivialize the Silda massacre in her effort to shield these Maoist killers by disputing their Maoist credentials.

In the run-up to the coming Assembly elections, the Maoist-TMC nexus has become brazenly pronounced. Today, we have heard you speaking out against the Maoists underlining the danger they pose to democracy, peace and people’s right to life. You have also mentioned the ghastly Gyaneswari episode which claimed 150 innocent lives. Trinamul’s vile attempt to defame the CPI(M) for the tragedy is repudiated by CBI chargesheet making clear how the nexus operates. Couple of days back, in a meeting organized by the TMC, some of the Union Ministers like Shri Shishir Adhikari were also present. The media has reported the presence of PCPA activists – their banners and flags in the meeting. We would like to recollect that on the floor of the Rajya Sabha itself, you had designated the PCPA as a front organisation of the Maoists.

In the background of all this, yesterday’s incident sends out a chilling message that one constituent of the ruling coalition at the Centre is in league with the Maoists. So much so that the highest leadership of that party is doing everything to aid, abet and facilitate joint operation with forces that the Prime Minister designates as the `single biggest threat to internal security’.

Further, the CRPF search operations in all those so-called “armed camps” as listed by the opposition in the court have revealed no “arms”. But only people who have been evicted from their home and hearth were found in those camps who are being listed by the security forces.

One cannot escape an uneasy feeling that the noise over the “armed camps” has helped the brazen activities of the TMC-Maoist nexus.

This is for your kind information.

Anticipating your response.

(Sitaram Yechury)

Member, Polit Bureau

MP, Leader, Rajya Sabha

Cycle rally to identify tribals' problems

Activists of Girijana Sangham led by former  MLA Sunnam Rajaiah pedalling their way to tribal habitations in Khammam district on Sunday.

The Girijana Sangham has launched a 16-day cycle rally at the remote Krishnapuram village in Wajedu mandal on Sunday as part of a mass contact programme to exert pressure on the government to make adequate allocations to the welfare of tribals in proportion to their population in the next State budget.

Former MP, Midiam Baburao, flagged off the cycle rally at a programme held under the aegis of Girijana Sangham at Krishnapuram village. The District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) new chairman Y. Ravi Kumar and others were present.

The cyclists led by former MLA and Girijana Sangham district president Sunnam Rajaiah embarked on their 16-day cycle rally to traverse a distance of about 429 kms and cover around 300 tribal habitations in Bhadrachalam agency.Earlier, addressing the villagers Mr Rajaiah alleged that the tribals were struggling to make both ends meet and living in deplorable conditions in the agency area due to the indifferent attitude of the successive governments towards their plight.

‘Fund diversion'

“The diversion of tribal sub-plan funds to the plain areas has cast a shadow on the welfare of the tribals,” he charged. “The cycle yatra is aimed at identifying the problems faced by the tribals and mobilising the public opinion to secure sufficient funds for the welfare of tribals and development of tribal habitations, he said.

The rally would culminate in a ‘Maha Dharna' in Bhadrachalam on February 14. The Communist Party of Inida (Marxist) Polit Bureau member and MP Brinda Karat and other prominent leaders will participate, he said. He said that the activists of Girijana Sangham will lay a siege to the Integrated Tribal Development Agency office in Bhadrachalam on the concluding day of the rally.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPI(M) demands Rs. 10,000 crores in State budget for dalits' welfare

The CPI (M) State secretary B.V.Raghavulu has demanded that the government allocate Rs.10,000 crore in the State budget exclusively for the development of dalit habitations and improvement of the living conditions of the dalits.

Mr. Raghavulu arrived in Madhira on Saturday to extend solidarity to the 73-day cycle rally being organised by the activists of the Kulavivaksha Vyatireka Porata Sangham (KVPS) and the Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham (AIAWU) to create awareness among the dalits on their rights and due share in development. Accompanied by CPI (M) Central Committee member and honorary president of KVPS district unit, Tammineni Veerabhadram, and other cyclists, Mr. Raghavulu pedalled a distance of about 12 km from Illuru to Dendukur in the mandal and visited several dalit habitations en route the cycle rally.

He interacted with the dalits at several habitations and made an on the spot assessment of their living conditions.

Speaking at Mahadevapuram, Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the governments meted out severe injustice to the dalits in all fields including socio-economic spheres.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPIM protest against killing of fisherman by Sri Lankan Navy

200 CPI (M) cadres led by the secretary of its State unit G. Ramakrishnan were arrested when they tried to gherao the Sri Lankan Deputy Commissioner office to protest the killing of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy. They were released in the evening. Addressing the protesters, Mr. Ramakrishnan said the attacks had become a continuing affair. So far 400 persons had been killed.

He said there was no let up in the attacks even though the people of the State had raised their voice in unison demanding action from the Centre and the State.

“Joint patrolling by the navies of India and Sri Lanka alone can put an end to the atrocities by the Sri Lankan Navy,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said. The arrested included CPI (M) North Chennai secretary T.K. Shanmugam, party MLA S.K. Mahendran and Fishermen Association Federation general secretary P. Karunanidhi.