NIA raids on Jharkhand TUs calling them Maoist 'attack on dissent': CASR

By Our Representative

On 19th and 20th June, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 19 different locations spread across Giridih and Bokaro districts of Jharkhand. "The raids had just one purpose, the targeting of trade union organizations, Majdoor Sangathan Samiti (MSS) and Asangthith Majdoor Morcha (AMM)", said civil rights network, Campaign Against State Repression (CASR).

"They aimed to target the leadership, so as to stifle the voices that talked about the oppression and exploitation faced by workers in Jharkhand, in one of the oldest and most populous industrial hubs in the country", claimed CASR, pointing out, "7 years ago in 2017 MSS was banned by the Jharkhand government under the BJP regime" under the pretext that it was the "frontal organization of the Communist Party of India (Maoist)."

Recalled CASR, "Later in 2022, High Court of Jharkhand lifted the ban on the grounds that there it found "no evidence which indicates that MSS is a frontal organization of the Maoist party", noting, "The court also observed that the actions of the Jharkhand government were very irresponsible."

According to CASR, "After the BJP lost the 2019 elections in Jharkhand, they again attempted to ban this organization", stating, in 2023, the state "repressed the same working class organisation on the grounds of a governor's ordinance", observing, this was "against the orders of the High Court judgment to ban MSS."

Amidst this "assault" on the trade union, said CASR, the Asangathit Majdoor Morcha "sprang to organise the unorganized working class in the area." And as this organisation too "became a thorn in the flesh for the state as it aims to organise contractual and unorganized workers", the state "attacked AMM, with the same vile intentions as it has done with MSS."

Commented CASR, "NIA is working towards the aim of completely stopping all trade union activities in Jharkhand to pave the way for intensified exploitation of the workers and the 'red tagging' of organisations as Maoist front is one such way. The politics of ban opens the door for long term repression of the struggles of the oppressed and exploited masses."

It said, quoting the court order, "Upholding Maoism as an ideology without actively engaging or calling for violence is not a crime. This is in line with the democratic ethos of being able to uphold political thought freely and without criminalisation", adding,"Banning and tagging of organisations such as MSS and AMM are an attempt to render the working class toothless."

Comments

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Structural retrogression? Steady rise in share of self-employment in agriculture 2017-18 to 2023-24

By Ishwar Awasthi, Puneet Kumar Shrivastav* The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017 to provide timely labour force data. The 2023-24 edition, released on 23rd September 2024, is the 7th round of the series and the fastest survey conducted, with data collected between July 2023 and June 2024. Key labour market indicators analysed include the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR), which highlight trends crucial to understanding labour market sustainability and economic growth.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Venugopal's book 'explores' genesis, evolution of Andhra Naxalism

By Harsh Thakor* N. Venugopal has been one of the most vocal critics of the neo-fascist forces of Hindutva and Brahmanism, as well as the encroachment of globalization and liberalization over the last few decades. With sharp insight, Venugopal has produced comprehensive writings on social movements, drawing from his experience as a participant in student, literary, and broader social movements.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

End India's arms trade with Israel as part of comprehensive sanctions on Israel, demands NAPM

Counterview Desk Civil rights network National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has said that Israel’s horrendous year-long genocidal war on Palestine and its continued attacks on Lebanon calls for global action.

Authorities' shrewd caveat? NREGA payment 'subject to funds availability': Barmer women protest

By Bharat Dogra* India is among very few developing countries to have a rural employment guarantee scheme. Apart from providing employment during the lean farm work season, this scheme can make a big contribution to important needs like water and soil conservation. Workers can get employment within or very near to their village on the kind of work which improves the sustainable development prospects of their village.

A significant event that has revitalized fundamental right of freedom of expression for journalists

By Vikas Meshram* The recent remark made by the Supreme Court -- that cases can’t be lodged against journalists for criticising Government -- is a significant event that has revitalized the fundamental rights of freedom of expression for journalists. The core of journalism in a democracy is to examine the policies, plans, and governance of the government and present the truth to the public. For this purpose, it is necessary for journalists to have the right to criticize fearlessly.

Search This Blog