Author: cgpiadmin

Press ahead with the demand for a Modern Universal Public Distribution System!

Food price inflation has been reported at 18% over the previous year in the third week of January. Conditions of life for millions dependent on fixed wage incomes are becoming unbearable. Conditions facing peasants and small family enterprises are also becoming untenable, with extremely high degrees of uncertainty and price volatility affecting food as well as raw materials.

As we go to the press, the North African country of Tunisia is in the midst of a powerful popular revolt of the working masses. The erstwhile President, who has ruled the country since 1987, has fled to Saudi Arabia.

Trade unions across the country have given a call for a march to Parliament on February 23, 2011, to protest against the anti working class policies and practices of the UPA government at the centre.

Food prices have hit record highs globally. They have shot up 25% in the past one year alone. The resulting unbearable squeeze on living standards have led to mass protests on the streets, including widespread clashes with armed troops in many cases. The rising food prices have been a major factor behind the revolt in Tunisia, as well as the mass protests in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mozambique and Yemen in recent weeks.

We have reported in Mazdoor Ekta Lehar of the mass protests in December of tens of thousands of garment workers of Bangladesh for better wages.

A serious crisis in the state of Karnataka has resulted in the sanctioning of prosecution of the Chief Minister Shri B. S. Yeddyurappa by the Governor Shri H. R. Bhardwaj in the case of allotment of prime land in and around Bangalore to his close relatives. The BJP has gone on the war path calling for a statewide bandh and accusing the Governor of being a Congress agent. They claim that his single point agenda is to eliminate the BJP Government and prepare conditions for a Congress Government.

India is on a dangerous imperialist course The second half of 2010 witnessed the chieftains of the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China paying official visits to India.

The agitation of school teachers of Manipur for the implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission continues without letup.

Power loom workers of Surat have been on strike since January 17, 2011, in support of their demand for increased wages. There have been militant clashes with the police in which nearly 15 workers have been reported to be injured.

25,000 mill workers marched to Mantralaya in Mumbai on January 17, 2011 to demand housing for 2.5 lakh mill workers. Workers, organized by the Girni Kaamgar Sangharsh Samiti, assembled from various districts in Azad Maidan for the rally.