Thursday, March 11, 2010

Karnataka cow slaughter bill will affect farmers



The government is sabotaging the right to nutrition of the poor and Dalits of the State through the bill against cow slaughter, opined CPM leader G N Nagaraj.


Speaking at a protest meeting organised under the joint auspices of CPI, CPI(M), JD(S), DYFI and other organisations in front of the DC’s office here on Tuesday, he stated that the BJP government has given more teeth to the 1964 Act on cow slaughter with the sole aim of attacking the minorities. The ban on cow slaughter will lead to a deficiency in the availability of nutritious food as other meats like mutton and chicken are very costly.




The farmers will also be affected as the bill will prevent them from selling the useless cattle for meat, he pointed out and added that 40 per cent of India’s population eat beef, and not just the Muslims who come to only 12 per cent of the population.



CPI(M) State Executive Committee Member Madhava presided over the meeting. JD(S) State President J S Noronha, CPI(M) District Secretary Sanjeeva, Muslim Varthigara Samithi President Ali Hassan, Corporator Aziz Kudroli and others spoke on the occasion.
(courtesy : Mangalorean.com)

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Polls : Civic Front releases manifesto



Leaders of the ten political parties, that have come together to form the Civic Front, address the media. Pic: Navya D'Souza.
The Civic Front is spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and includes All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Indian National League (INL), Republic Party of India (RPI), Communist Party of India (CPI), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (A), Prajavani Vimochana Chaluvali(PVC) and the Tipu Sultan United Front (TUF).
The Civic Front, comprising of ten political parties released their manifesto for the coming elections yesterday at a meeting near N R Square. 
Asgar Rafiyuddin, President of the INL in Karnataka, said, "This front is an alternative force for Bangalore. It is not just a political force but a movement for the concern of the people and will exist even after the elections."
The front has come out with a detailed agenda on what their priorities will be should they come to power. The focus is on providing the people with basic amenities, healthcare, education, housing, and efficient public transport. It also promises to facilitate social welfare and justice and the decentralisation of power. Prakash K, a senior leader with the CPI (M), pointed out , "The divide between the rich and the poor in Bangalore in increasing day-by-day. The neo-liberal policies of the parties in power focus only on the rich. The lower income groups especially the unorganised sector are being ignored. The Civic Front wants to fight this."
The Civic Front plans to field candidates in all 198 wards but for now have released a list of 55 wards from which the candidates will be selected. A second and a third list with the rest of the wards and the categories from which the candidates will be picked is said to be released in two days. Prakash K added, "The names of most of the candidates will be made known by the 13th of March. And by the 15th all the names will be out."
AIADMK's K R Krishnaraju , while insisting that the Front was for the civilians said, "The parties that form the Civic Front have always worked for the betterment of the common man. Hence, I wholeheartedly, request the people to support and encouraging us by casting their votes in our favour. The Front will take out a rally on the 20th of this month to start their campaign. Sitaram Yechury, senior politburo member for the CPI(M), will be present at the rally.
Courtesy : bangalore.citizenmatters.in

Kerala raise its voice against price rice and neo liberal policies


The five day blockade of central government offices in Kerala by CPIM is turning out to be a historic struggle. For the last 4 days 69 selected central government offices in Kerala is closed down as part of the protest by the cadres. The struggle which is being participated by lakhs of men and women had given a fitting reply to all corporate medias and right wing political parties which has been campaigning against CPIM and Left Front Government in Kerala. People has clearly noted that the policies followed by the congress led UPA government is the real anti people force which is creating the price rise in the country.