Money Lenders (Sahukars) In A New Avatar

THE decade-long rule of the BJP-RSS has extensively damaged the lives of lakhs of families, with women precariously clinging on to any mirage of help just to keep alive. Women in India are trying to figure out how to even provide the basic needs for the family. They have to borrow money to buy food or medicines, or for education of their children. Anybody lending money in such times becomes a ‘saviour’. The micro finance institutions – non-banking financial companies enter the scene wearing the garb of such ‘saviours’ – like vultures waiting to pounce on their prey!

Malegaon Bombing – The ‘Innocence’ of Saffron Extremists

IN the early 2000’s a series of bomb blasts targeting Muslims rocked the country. These were Malegaon (2006, 2008), the Samjhauta Express (2007), Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid (2007), Ajmer Sharif Dargah (2007) and Modasa (2008). Before that, there had been several bomb blasts in public places that were claimed by Islamist groups. It was thought that the later blasts were revenge attacks perpetrated by Hindu fanatics. But this proved to be just a pretext because later investigations revealed an insanely more dangerous vision and plan, as we will see below.

Manifested to Manufactured History

ON the 79th Independence Day, after hoisting India’s national flag at the ramparts of the Red Fort, Narendra Modi delivered the prime minister’s ceremonial address to the nation. Curiously, he used the solemn occasion to extol the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Modi said, “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s 100 years of service to the nation is a truly glorious and golden chapter.”A moment that truly epitomised the RSS’s service to the nation was the eve of India’s independence.

Intelligence and Genocides

ISRAELI officials are using dehumanising language to justify the ongoing horrifying genocide in Gaza. They paint Palestinians as morally and intellectually deficient. "We are fighting human animals," said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, depriving Palestinians of their humanity and reiterating genocidal ideas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a call to "Erase all of Gaza from the face of the earth." "There are no innocent people in Gaza," said Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Israel Beytenu party.

The US-isation of India?

THE recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar can rightly be described as an exercise in disenfranchisement. Strikingly, there are many similarities between this exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India and similar actions that have occurred – and continue to occur – in the United States. A comparison of the two clearly reveals that far-right forces across the world operate in similar ways and with similar agendas.THE US CASEVoter suppression has long been a staple tactic of right-wing forces in the US.

Education Policy Bent to Promote a Hindu Rashtra Agenda

ANYONE who wishes to pursue PhD research in India must appear for the UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test), which, until 2024-25, was conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the posts of ‘Assistant Professor’ and ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ in Indian universities and colleges.In 2024, the union government – under the guise of “standardising” and “enhancing” the quality of research programmes – made NET scores a key criterion for PhD admissions.

Forcible Conversion of Chhattisgarh into Hindutva Rashtra

WHEN our delegation* met the nuns, Sisters Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis in the Durg central jail, the utter injustice of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh was further brought home to us by the courage and dignity displayed by both the sisters. They were more concerned about the well-being of the adivasi youth Sukhman Mandavi who had been arrested along with them. The nuns have provided selfless service for decades in some of the most deprived and remote areas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where there are no facilities.

Joint Meeting of Energy Sector Workers’ Federations

ON July 27, representatives from three major energy sector workers’ federations met in Thiruvananthapuram and initiated a process of coordinated actions across the electricity, coal and petroleum sectors.The meeting, attended by leaders from the Electricity Employees' Federation of India (EEFI), All India Coal Workers' Federation (AICWF), and Petroleum & Gas Workers' Federation of India (PGWFI), discussed in detail the scope and challenges of organising the workers of the energy sectors to protect the energy security and sovereignty of our country, as well as the rights and welfare of e

Is Night Work an Equal Opportunity for Women Workers?

EVEN as central trade unions and other organisations working towards securing workers’ rights and mobilising against the anti-people policies of the BJP led Modi government were preparing for the massive national strike against the four Labour Codes on July 9, some state governments were busy enacting the very provisions that are being opposed by trade unions in the name of “Labour Reform” but are really for the sake of “Ease of Doing Business.”Prominent amongst them are the amendments to the Factories Act, 1948 and Shops and Commercial Establishments Acts, to allow for the employment of wo

Shameless on Gaza

THE Modi government should hang its head in shame – if it has any sense of shame left. Unfolding before the eyes of the world is the horrific and unbearable spectacle of mass starvation in Gaza, of babies and children wasting away due to malnutrition and hunger, and at the doors of death.The 21-month Israeli war on Gaza has now transformed into genocide by starvation. Yet, the BJP rulers are unmoved. There has been not a single statement of protest or condemnation of Israel’s tactics of starving an entire population.

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