IUML Leader Panakkad Shihabali Thangal passed away

NSUI express its heartfelt condolences on the demise of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president the great Panakkad Muhammadali Shihab Thangal, who strode the political scene of Kerala for over three decades as a powerful but sober player.
Thangal, who succeeded his father Panakkad Pookoya Thangal as IUML state president in 1975, had been a key factor of the Congress-led UDF coalition in the state. The Panakkad Thangal family, held in high esteem by the Mappila Muslims in Malabar, traces their ancestry to the family of Prophet Muhammad. Thangal's role in keeping religious and social harmony even at trying times like the post-Babri Masjid demolition had been recognized by all sections in Kerala, including the Left and the BJP. We deeply regret the loss of the prophet of peace and a great secular nationalist which Kerala ever has produced.

NSUI JNU AND IYC PROTEST AGAINST KERALA ADVOCATE GENERAL

NSUI JNU AND IYC PROTEST AGINST KERALA ADVOCATE GENERAL

NSUI JNU AND INDIAN YOUTH CONGRESS ORGANISED A NON VIOLENT PROTEST IN KERALA HOUSE AGAINST KERAL ADVOCATE GENERAL SUDHAKARAPRASAD ON 8/05/2009. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING A CLEAN CHIT TO CPIM GEN SEC PINARAYI VIJAYAN IN SNC LAVLIN SCAM. SENIOR LEADERS OF IYC AND NSUI PARTICPATED IN THE PROTEST. IYC SECRETARY AND NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF IYC HUMAN RIGHTS CELL SANJEEV JOSEPH AND NSUI JNU PRESIDENT SIMMY JOSEPH LED THE PROTEST. HARSHVARDHAN SHYAM, LINESH V.V., ZULFIKKAR, RAJESH, PREMJISH PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTEST. LATER ON POLICE CAME AND ARRETSED THE ACTIVIST WHO WERE CONDUCTING A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. DELHI POLICE REGISTERED A CASE AGAINST ALL OF THEM ON FALSE CHARGES FILED BY KERALA HOUSE EMPLOYEES. THE LEFT FACTION OF THE KERALA HOUSE ACTED ON THE DICTATES OF PINARAYI AND FILED FALSE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL GATHERING, TRESPASSING, AND DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY. MEANWHILE THE VIDEO CLIPS AIRED IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA SHOWS THAT THE PROTESTS WERE PEACEFUL AND WHEN THE DEMONSTRATION STARTED POLICE CAME AND SURROUNDED ADVOCATE GENERAL FOR HIS SECURITY. THEN WHERE IS THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE. NSUI IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS PEACEFUL AND NON VIOLENT AGITATIONAL METHODS. IT HAS NEVER FALLEN INTO THE LEVELS OF THE VIOLENT POLITICS USED BY CPIM AND SFI.

NSUI SALUTES KSU ON ITS 52ND ANNIVERSARY

NSUI JNU SALUTES AND CONGRATULATES KERALA STUDENTS UNION ON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ITS 52ND ANNIVERSARY. KSU ENTERED THE CENTER STAGE OF STUDENT POLITICS IN KERALA WITH THE FAMOUS “ORANA SAMARAM”, A STRIKE FOR TRAVEL CONCESSIONS FOR STUDENTS IN BUSES AND BOATS OF THE STATE. THE RULING COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE LEAD BY EMS NAMBOODIRIPAD DEALT WITH THE AGITATION WITH AN IRON FIST INCLUDING WIDESPREAD POLICE ATTACKS ON STUDENTS, LATHICHARGES AND ARRESTS. BUT THE AGITATION WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO RELENT TO THE DEMANDS OF STUDENTS.
FROM THEN ONWARDS, THE GROWTH OF KSU WAS TREMENDOUS. KSU BECAME A “FASHION” AMONG THE STUDENT COMMUNITY AND WITH INCESSANT STRUGGLES, THE ORGANIZATION COULD ACHIEVE MANY A MILESTONES OF ACHIEVEMENTS. UNIFICATION OF FEES IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, CONSTITUTION OF COLLEGE UNIONS AND UNIVERSITY UNIONS THROUGH REGULAR ELECTIONS, UNIVERSITY ARTS FESTIVALS, REPRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS IN THE SENATE, SYNDICATE AND ACADEMIC COUNCILS OF UNIVERSITIES, ERADICATION OF DETENTION SYSTEM, FREE EDUCATION UP TO THE PLUS TWO LEVEL ETC. ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES AMONG THE VAST VARIETY OF ACHIEVEMENTS TO ITS CREDIT. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAD TO SHED THEIR SWEAT AND BLOOD ON THE STREETS TO ACHIEVE THESE, AND THE GREATEST OF THEM HAD TO LAY THEIR LIVES ITSELF, LIKE SUDHAKAR AKKITHAI, SANTHARAM SHENOY, THEVARA MURALI, FRANCIS KARIPPAYI AND K.P. SAJITHLAL.
KSU HAS ALSO GIFTED MANY NATIONAL LEVEL LEADERS OF IMPECCABLE TALENT LIKE AK ANTONY, RAMESH CHENNITHALA, VAYALAR RAVI, KODIKKUNNIL SURESH, HIBI EDEN. AND DYNAMIC LEADERS LIKE OOMMEN CHANDY, K SUDHAKARAN, PT THOMAS, VISHNUNATH, KC VENUGOPAL, ETC.
THOUGH KSU REGULARLY INTERVENED EFFECTIVELY IN THE ACADEMIC FIELD, ITS EFFECT WAS NOT RESTRICTED TO THAT ALONE. IT IS PERHAPS THE FIRST STUDENT MOVEMENT IN INDIA, WHICH COULD EVEN OVERTHROW A GOVERNMENT. THE COMMUNIST OPPRESSIVE REGIME OF EMS, WHICH HAD PROVED TO BE A THREAT TO CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY ITSELF, WAS THROWN OUT OF OFFICE THROUGH THE AGITATIONS AND RELENTLESS EFFORTS OF KSU IN 1960. IN THE 1970’S, KSU PLAYED ITS DECISIVE ROLE IN RETAINING THE FAITH OF STUDENT COMMUNITY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL MACHINERY AND NON-VIOLENT MEANS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, IN THE DAYS WHEN NAXALISM AND ARMED ADVENTURES SPREAD AS A WAVE IN COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE ORGANIZATION BECAME A WATCHDOG OF IDEALISM IN POLITICS AND IT COULD BRING AN END TO THE ‘AAYARAM GAYARAM’ SYNDROME (FREQUENT DEFECTIONS OF POLITICIANS FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER) OF KERALA POLITICS OF THE 1950S. MANY OF ITS FOUNDER LEADERS LIKE A.K. ANTONY, VAYALAR RAVI, OOMMEN CHANDY, A.C.JOSE AND V.M.SUDHEERAN ARE STILL THE DARLINGS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. IT INJECTED FRESH BLOOD INTO THE CONGRESS PARTY AND A WHOLE GENERATION OF NEW LEADERS ENTERED INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA, A LOT OF THEM M.P.S, M.L.A.S AND EVEN TWO CHIEF MINISTERS.
KSU WAS ALWAYS A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER DEMOCRATIC STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COUNTRY. EVEN THE NSUI WAS FORMED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL TAKING INSPIRATION FROM KSU IN KERALA AND THE ‘CHHATRA PARISHAD’ IN WEST BENGAL.
KSU ALWAYS STOOD FOR THE LEGITIMATE RIGHTS OF THE STUDENT COMMUNITY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO RULES, AND IT CONTINUES THIS LEGACY EVEN TODAY. IT PUT UP A SERIES OF AGITATIONS AGAINST THE CORRUPTION IN PLUS TWO SCHOOLS ALLOTMENT POLICY OF THE PREVIOUS LDF GOVERNMENT AND IS NOW GOING AHEAD WITH AGITATIONS AGAINST THE IRREGULARITIES IN THE SELF-FINANCING INSTITUTIONS POLICY OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. A BRAVE WAR FRONT IS ALSO PUT UP AGAINST THE ATTEMPT TO “MARXISTISE” SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS.
SIMMY JOSEPH, JNU NSUI PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATED KSU ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND WISHED ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ORGANISATION. HE RELINQUESHED HIS KSU DAUS IN KERALA AND ADDED THAT THE ORGANISATION HAS GIVEN HIM A CULTURE OF ACTIVISM, INTEGRITY AND IDEALISM AND HE STILL MAINTAINS THAT.

OBITUARY TO KAMALA SURAYYA

NSUI JNU PAYS ITS HOMAGE TO KAMALA SURAYYA. KAMALA DAS, BORN ON MARCH 31, 1934, WAS ONE OF THE LEADING BI-LINGUAL WRITERS WHO WROTE BOTH IN ENGLISH AND HER MOTHER TONGUE MALAYALAM IN HER SOBRIQUET ''MADHAVIKUTTY.'' BORN TO V M NAIR AND RENOWNED MALAYALAM POETESS NALAPPATT BALAMANI AMMA, KAMALA HAD SPENT HER CHILDHOOD IN CALCUTTA WHERE HER FATHER WAS EMPLOYED, AND NALAPPAT, HER ANCESTRAL HOME AT PONNAYURKULAM IN KERALA. IN 1976 AT THE AGE OF 42, KAMALA WROTE HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY MY DAYS, WHICH WAS ICONOCLASTIC TO SAY THE LEAST. THE BOOK DETAILED HER MUSINGS OF THE HEART AND HAD CREATED LOT OF CONTROVERSY IN THE LITERARY WORLD. THE BOOK WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND WAS READ WIDELY AND TRANSLATED TO MORE THAN 15 LANGUAGES. IN MALAYALAM, KAMALA WROTE SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS IN PAKSHIYUDE MANAM IN 1964 AND NARICHEERUKAL PARAKKUMBOL' IN 1966. BOTH THE COLLECTIONS WERE WELL ACCEPTED BY READERS IN KERALA. IN 1968, KAMALA GOT THE SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD FOR HER SHORT STORY THANUPPU AND THAT MADE THE CRITICS SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THE WRITER.

KAMALA GOT THE VAYALAR AWARD FOR HER NOVEL NEERMATHALAM POOTHA KALAM IN 1994. BESIDES THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BOOKS, THE OTHER PROMINENT WORKS OF KAMALA IN MALAYALAM INCLUDE 'BALYAKALA SMARANAKAL' (1987), 'VARSHAGALKKU MUMBU' (1989), 'PALAYAN (1990), NEYPAYASAM (1991), DAYARIKKURIPPUKAL (1992), CHEKKERUNNA PAKSHIKAL (1996), AND NASHTAPETTA NEELAMBARI (1998). IN 1999, AT THE AGE OF 65, SHE EMBRACED ISLAM AND TOOK THE NAME OF KAMALA SURAYYA AND THAT TOO LIKE HER WORKS KICKED UP A LOT OF CONTROVERSIES IN KERALA. IN ENGLISH, HER WORKS INCLUDE ALPHABET OF LUST (1977), THE ANAMALAI POEMS, PADMAVATI,' 'THE HARLOT AND OTHER STORIES' (1992) AND ONLY THE SOUL KNOW HOW TO SING' (1996). IN HER ILLUSTRIOUS WRITING career, KAMALA HAD GOT NUMEROUS AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS WHICH INCLUDE ASAN WORLD PRIZE, EZHUTHACHAN AWARD AND KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD. SHE ALSO DABBLED WITH POLITICS AND HAD LAUNCHED A PARTY BY THE NAME OF LOK SEVA PARTY WHICH WAS MEANT TO UNDERTAKE HUMANITARIAN WORK AND TO PROVIDE SUCCOUR TO ORPHANED MOTHERS. IN 1984, SHE CONTESTED AND LOST IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. HER ELDEST SON M D NALAPPAT HAD MARRIED A PRINCESS FROM THE TRAVANCORE ROYAL FAMILY AND WAS THE FORMER RESIDENT EDITOR OF TIMES OF INDIA.

NSUI PRESIDENT SIMMY JOSEPH STATED THAT KAMALA SURAYYA STOOD FOR HUMANITY AND SHE WAS THE WRITER OF COMMON PEOPLE. HER DEMISE IS A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR THE COUNTRY'S LITERARY FIELD. 

 

30 Years of Left Front Rule in West Bengal: A Development Report CardApril 5, 2009

30 Years of Left Front Rule in West Bengal: A Development Report CardApril 5, 2009
Table of Contents
1. Health and Nutrition. 3Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal has very high levels of hunger and malnutrition when compared to the rest of India.
2. Education.. 5
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal is failing to keep children in school and to ensure learning among them.
3. Employment Generation.. 7
Even after 30 years of Left rule, negligible new employment is being created in West Bengal, even as other states are forging ahead.
4. Poverty. 8
Even after 30 years of Left rule, most of West Bengal's districts are among the poorest in India. It also has the ominous distinction of having India's poorest district.
5. Income Growth.. 9
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal has very high levels of hunger and malnutrition when compared to the rest of India.
6. Law and Order. 10
After 30 years of Left rule, the ranking of West Bengal among Indian states in terms of per capita income has slid dramatically.
7. Basic Services and Infrastructure.. 11
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal has under-invested in protecting its citizens. The incidence of heinous crimes in West Bengal is disproportionately high when compared to other states of India.
8. Welfare of Backward Classes. 12
Even after 30 years of Left rule, the Left government has failed to provide access to essential services and basic infrastructure to the people of West Bengal.



1. Health & Nutrition
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal has very high levels of hunger and malnutrition when compared to the rest of India.

· Hunger
West Bengal has the highest rate of hunger in rural households among major Indian states.
o This is validated in a recent Study led by Jean Dreze and Angus Deaton (see below).

· Malnutrition of Women
o Married women in West Bengal, on average, have a lower body-mass index than the average Indian woman, suggesting greater undernourishment. Married women in West Bengal also have a greater likelihood of suffering from anemia than the average Indian woman.
o This data is from the West Bengal government’s own Human Development Report.


· Not spending Central Government Funds on HealthcareWest Bengal government has failed to fully and effectively spend the money released to it by the Central government, year after year.

· Failure to spend on urban health services: Comptroller & Auditor General of India, Audit Report (Civil), West Bengal for the Year 2006-2007 notes that: “During 2002-2007, the (West Bengal government’s) department could not spend the budgeted funds of Rs 357.13 crore for urban health services. Further, unutilised funds of Rs 1.50 crore remained parked in the personal ledger accounts of the Superintendents of two hospitals for over seven years.”

2. Education
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal is failing to keep children in school and to ensure learning among them.

· Drop-out Rates
West Bengal has the second highest school dropout rate among major states of India.

· Learning of Children

The level of learning of children in rural West Bengal schools is, on average, lower than most other states of India.

· Poor Implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme
The Comptroller & Auditor General of India, Performance Audit Report of the National Programme for Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Midday Meal Scheme), 2008 notes that:
o “In test checked schools, cooked meals were not served for 37 per cent of the targeted 78,114 school-days due to delayed implementation of the programme, short receipt of rice, cooking cost, etc.”
o Rs. 4.82 crore was claimed in excess of the actual spend for food grain transportation.
o Pucca kitchen sheds were not available in 71 per cent of the schools.
o Drinking water was not available in 29 per cent of the schools. Gas stoves were not available in 99 percent of the schools.

3. Employment Generation
After 30 years of Left rule, negligible new employment is being created in West Bengal, even as other states are forging ahead.

· Employment growth
o Employment growth outside agriculture in West Bengal is way behind that of other comparable states and also behind the national average.
o Employment growth has practically come to a halt in urban areas.
· National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Implementation
o While it complains about lack of support from the central government, the West Bengal government is failing to utilize funds allocated to it by the Centre to implement the scheme.
§ According to the CAG of India Performance Audit in 2008, the West Bengal government spent only 66.6% of the funds made available for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in 2006-07.
o There is over-reporting of the implementation of the scheme, the actual implementation is much lower. According to a CAG of India Performance Audit in 2008:
§ Excess reporting of 6.06 lakh man days of cumulative employment generation was noticed just in Purulia district alone.
§ Excess reporting of funds utilization of Rs. 0.99 crore was noticed in both Medinipur and Purulia districts.

4. Poverty
Even after 30 years of Left rule, most of West Bengal’s districts are among the poorest in India. It also has the ominous distinction of having India’s poorest district.
· 14 out of West Bengal’s 18 districts (i.e. 78% of the districts) are among the 100 poorest districts in India.
· The poorest district in India is Murshidabad in West Bengal, where 56% of the people live in abject poverty. An astonishing 1.47% of India’s rural poor live in this one district alone.
Source: 2009 Study by Indian Statistical Institute for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; based on analysis of NSS Data

5. Income Growth
After 30 years of Left rule, the ranking of West Bengal among Indian states in terms of per capita income has slid dramatically.
· West Bengal has gone from having the second position in per capita income among Indian states in 1960/61 to the ninth position in 2004/05.
Ranking of Indian States by Per Capita Income

1960/61
1980/81
2004/05
Maharashtra
1
2
2
West Bengal
2
5
9
Punjab
3
1
3
Gujarat
4
4
4
Tamil Nadu
5
8
6
Haryana
6
3
1
Assam
7
12
10
Karnataka
8
6
7
Rajasthan
9
14
11
Andhra Pradesh
10
9
8
Kerala
11
7
5
Madhya Pradesh
12
10
13
Orissa
13
11
12
Uttar Pradesh
14
13
14
Bihar
15
15
15
Source: Central Statistical Organization (CSO)

6. Law & Order
Even after 30 years of Left rule, West Bengal has under-invested in protecting its citizens. The incidence of heinous crimes in West Bengal is disproportionately high when compared to other states of India.
· Police Force
West Bengal has under-invested in protecting its citizens – it has fewer policemen per capita than the all-India average.

· Incidence of heinous crimes
The incidence of heinous crimes is much higher than the incidence in other comparable states and the all-India average.

7. Basic Services and Infrastructure
Even after 30 years of Left rule, the Left government has failed to provide access to essential services and basic infrastructure to the people of West Bengal.
· Availability of Drinking Water
Only a quarter of households in West Bengal have access to safe drinking water, which is far less than other comparable states.


· Road connectivity
Less than half the habitations in West Bengal are connected by pucca roads, which is far less than other comparable states.


8. Welfare of Backward Classes
Even after 30 years of Left rule, the Left government has failed to look after the interests of the weaker sections of West Bengal, especially SC/ST groups.
Observations made in the Comptroller & Auditor General of India Report, “Audit Report (Civil) for the year ended 31 March 2007”
· During 2001-2006, against a budget of Rs 1.43 crores for pre-matric scholarships, only Rs 0.43 crore (30 per cent) were granted and paid to SC/ST students.
· In seven test-checked districts, 25,000 SC and 4000 ST students were deprived of post-matric scholarships due to non-release of required funds. Further, over 74,000 students faced a delay of between 12 – 22 months in receiving their scholarships in the seven districts surveyed.
· Against the state’s budgeted provision of Rs 92.37 crores for payment of book grants, the concerned state government department released only Rs 77.80 crores, thus depriving 14.15 lakh students of the benefits of the scheme.
· As of March 2006, construction of two central hostels for SC/ST students was not started due to land dispute and construction of seven more hostels remained incomplete due to delayed selection of sites and delayed release of funds. Further, eight additional hostels remained vacant for want of matrons, superintendents and other staff and required basic infrastructure facilities. Shockingly, two of the hostels were being used as Government offices and residences.
· In the absence of adequate inspection, hostel grants were paid to the school authorities on the basis of sanctioned strength of boarders, instead of actual number of students accommodated therein. As a result, several instances of excess payment of hostel grants aggregating Rs 39.35 lakh were noticed in the audit.

Stop spreading communal hatred… NOW

Stop spreading communal hatred… NOW


The following are excerpts from speeches that Varun Gandhi is shown as delivering in at least two locations earlier this month in Pilibhit, from where he is contesting as the BJP candidate.

“ Yeh panja nahi hai, yeh kamal ka haath hai. Yeh kat** ke galey ko kaat dega chunaav ke baad! Varun Gandhi kaat daalega! Kaat denge us haath ko, kaat denge, kaat daalega!

[This is not the (Congress symbol) ‘hand’, this is the hand of the ‘lotus’. It will cut the throat of the (derogatory reference to a Muslim) after the elections... Varun Gandhi will cut... Cut that hand, cut it, cut it.]

Apne jao, apne gaon mein jao aur halla karo ki saara Hindu ek tarfa ho jao, chhetra ko Pakistan hone se bachao, aur saara Hindu ek tarfa ho jao!
[Go to your villages and give the call that all Hindus must unite to save this area from becoming Pakistan…]
Kya yeh sach nahin hai… ki usko bola gaya ki mataji aapka naam kya hai... agar usne bola ki Bimla Devi, to usko kahaa ki dekhenge, sochenge... pehle paanch hazaar rupaye do... aur agar uska naam hai Saira Bano ya jo bhi Begum Hukum Begum... hum to jaante nahin hain... badey daraawne naam hotey hain inke... Karimullah... Mazharullah.... agar raat ko kabhi dikh jaayen... to darr rahen hain...
[Is it not true... that if (a woman) is asked her name and she says Bimla Devi, she is told we’ll see, we’ll think (about giving government aid), give us Rs 5,000 first... But if her name is Saira Bano or whatever begum Hukum Begum... I don’t even know... These people have such scary-sounding names... Karimullah, Mazharullah... If you ever encountered them at night, you’d be scared...]
NSUI condemns the heinous and venal remarks made by Varun Gandhi, as such mindless spewing of invectives against a community destroys the spirit of democracy. It is a pity that Varun Gandhi is determined to display his immaturity and ineptitude as an individual and as a politician. We condemn the BJP for attempting to incite communal hatred to gain political scores and demand a public apology for this act.

NSUI condemns the act of violence in Lohit hostel against a student belonging to a minority community and using derogatory, fascist and communal remarks by ABVP’s saffron brigade. NSUI demands the administration to imitative severe disciplinary action against the perpetrators of violence for such delinquent behavior.

Infighting, corruption highlight of LDF rule: Rahul Gandhi

Launching the Lok Sabha poll campaign of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (March 5) attacked the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) state government saying it had failed to implement “pro-people programmes due to infighting and corruption”. Addressing the final day of the 25-day-long ‘Save Kerala March’ led by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala at Sanghumugham beach near here, Gandhi said LDF had failed to deliver the goods despite the UPA at the Centre providing schemes totaling Rs 40,000 crore to the state. In sharp contrast, UPA had been able to prove that there was no contradiction between achieving growth and helping the poor. “In fact, when there is inclusive growth, the growth can be faster,” he said. Expressing concern over the fallout on thousands of Keralites working in the Gulf due to global downturn, he asked party leaders to work out a package to help the returnees. He said since his take over of youth and student outfits of the party, plans had been put in place to ensure greater role for youth in politics and strengthening internal democracy in Youth Congress and NSUI. Hailing Kerala’s social and communal harmony, Gandhi said both the nation and the Congress had learnt many lessons from the state.

Stock market bad for aam aadmi, good for CPIM

For CPM, stock mkt evil for 'aam admi', great for partyNew Delhi, October 1 An article by CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat last week came down heavily on the new pension scheme of the Government saying it would siphon off thousands of crores earned by employees to the speculative stockmarket with no assured returns. The argument: the stockmarket, capitalism’s seamy showcase, has to be avoided. But not when it comes to the CPM’s own cash reserve. While the party has opened an amusement park and is planning to enter the hotel business, it has also invested a substantial amount of its income in mutual funds that invest in stocks. So, even comrades cannot resist the lure of better returns. Income tax returns filed by the party from 2002 to 2006 show it has earned a substantial amount from interest and dividends: Rs 1.88 crore (2002), Rs 1.17 crore (2003), Rs 2.10 crore (2004), Rs 2.15 crore (2005) and Rs 1.92 crore (2006). “We have invested in mutual funds because we get better returns than banks. But we have only invested in public sector funds like the Unit Trust of India,” senior Politburo member M K Pandhe told 'The Indian Express'. He declined to mention what share of the income came from mutual funds. Doesn’t matter that in the portfolio of UTI Equity Fund, for example, PSUs are not exactly at the top. As of July 31, 2008, the fund’s portfolio included Reliance Industries, Glaxosmithkline, Reliance Communications, Tata Tea, TCS, Infosys and Shoppers Stop. Isn’t this doublespeak? “Banks also invest in stock markets. How can we stop that? As long as we are working in a capitalist system, we will have to be part of the system,” Pandhe said.Stock market bad for aam aadmi, good for CPIMAN article by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat last week came down heavily on the new pension scheme of the Government, saying it would lead to thousands of crores of rupees of the employees going into the speculative stock market. His concern was that no regulatory authority can stop wild fluctuations in stock markets and the scheme does not assure a minimum return to employees. The party had adopted a similar line when the Government decided to hand over the management of the Employees Provident Fund to private mutual fund (MF) companies. The argument: stock market is speculative. But while the CPI(M) has a dislike for the speculative stock markets, it seems to have no ideological qualms in taking the MF route to get better returns for its own cash reserve. While the party has opened an amusement park and is planning to enter into hotel business, it has also invested a substantial amount of its income in MFs, which ultimately goes into the stock markets. It seems even the comrades cannot resist the lure of better returns. The income tax returns filed by the CPI(M) from 2002 to 2006 shows it has earned a substantial amount from interests and dividends. A break-up of income that party got from interests and dividends as per the records filed by it — Rs1.88 crore (2002), Rs 1.17 crore (2003), Rs 2.10 crore (2004), Rs 2.15 crore (2005) and Rs 1.92 crore (2006). “We have invested in mu tual funds because we get better returns than banks. But we have only invested in public sector PSUs like the Unit Trust of India,” confirms Politburo member M K Pandhe. However, it is not clear how much the party has invested in MFs. But then the party hates stock markets, doesn’t it? “Banks also invest in stock markets. How can we stop that? As long as we are working in a capitalist system, one will have to be part of the system,” Pandhe told The Indian Express. “When the Industrial Disputes Act was proposed, we opposed it. We had observed the day the Bill was passed as black day. But once it came into force, when it became the law of the land, we adhere to it. We have to go by the law,” he added drawing a parallel. According to the returns filed, the CPI(M)’s total earnings in 2006 was Rs 41.60 crore, a 150 per cent increase from its income four years ago. The party’s income was Rs 20.06 crore in 2002. The majority of the CPI(M)’s income comes from voluntary contributions and levy paid by party leaders. The party received Rs 17.90 crore in voluntary contributions and Rs 16.77 crore in levy in 2006. All party MPs, MLAs, ministers and leaders have to pay levy, a portion of the salary they earn. Marxists tracking Sensex makes FM happyThe CPI(M), which showed concern over the crash in the stock market, was today cornered in the Rajya Sabha by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who said he was happy that the Marxists were keenly tracking the Sensex."I am glad you are looking at the stock market. There is a substantial CPI(M) investment in the stock market," Chidambaram said replying to the debate on Appropriation Bill.Chidambaram had a dig at the Left party members when one of them asked him why the stock market was melting if the fundamentals of the economy are strong.In a lighter vein, the Finance Minister said he knew the kind of money that the CPI(M) had made from the share market. "You made Rs 1.9 crore," Chidambaram said adding, he was happy for that.When Sitaram Yechury asked Chidambaram to give the "devil (Left) its due" for saving the country from the global financial turmoil, the Finance Minister said the Congress-led UPA government had neither embraced capitalism nor communism."We have never embraced capitalism nor communism. Congress party and the UPA have a particular philosophy which would be in tune with changing times," he said.The House witnessed friendly duel between Chidambaram and Yechury over how the erstwhile Left supporters of the UPA had allowed the government to go ahead with NTPC disinvestment while blocking the similar moves for BHEL.The government had disinvested close to ten per cent in NTPC and wanted other PSUs to follow the suit.Chidambaram said the "same devil" supported the government's move to disinvest in NTPC but not in BHEL.The Finance Minister also took potshots at Yechury saying that the CPI(M) leader gave an impression as if he was running for the US Presidential elections."I thought he (Yechury) was running as the third candidate in US elections. He might have become President of US and declare America as a Marxist country," Chidambaram said evoking laughter in the House

Congress opens internet kiosks, launches e-campaign in the country

As the general elections approaching fast, the Congress party has opened internet kiosks launching e-campaign in Gujarat to attract young voters.The kiosks have laptops to show the achievements of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).These kiosks will be installed across various public places like malls, restaurants where they are bound to attract the youth and will fill them on the successes of UPA through audio-visual presentations.Around one-and-half-year has gone into planning and creating these kiosks, which will also allow the users, an access to free internet usage for 20 minutes along with highlights of the schemes and achievements of the UPA vis-'-vis its opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)."This time, we thought of coming up with some unique project to spread the message of Congress easily in a way which can attract youth easily. So, we designed this e-publicity campaign," said Gunvant Dave, Managing Director, Wilson Print City Pvt. Ltd.The campaign has special features using patented technology. It showcases the achievement along with links to send suggestions and messages to General Secretary of Congress, Rahul Gandhi and various Congress websites.The campaign has already managed to find favour amongst the net-savvy youngsters who find it an easy and convenient way to get acquainted with the party."This is a very affective medium to attract youngsters. We don't get time from office work to spare for other things. This is a good initiative taken by the party to gain votes of youth," said Deepa Ravani, a young professional. By Ami Sharma (ANI)

CARTOON BY EP UNNY

TRIUMPH OF FREE WILL. LONG LIVE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

CARTOON BY EP UNNY

No Advani, Maya; SP prefers Manmohan as PM

Notwithstanding its failure to reach a seat-sharing agreement with Congress, Samajwadi Party said it would support Manmohan Singh for the Prime Ministership and ruled out his party joining the Third Front which will have CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat at its helm.
"Out of L K Advani (of NDA), Mayawati (of BSP) and Manmohan Singh, we prefer Manmohan Singh," Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh told reporters here when asked whom his party would support for Prime Ministership as there are several aspirants.
Taking a swipe at LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and BSP chief Mayawati who are aspiring to be the Prime Minister, Amar Singh said, "Pradhan mantri ki kursi ke liye swayamwar ho raha hai aur log saj dhaj ke tuktuki lagake baithe hain (the best suitable groom is being chosen for the PM's chair and people attired in best dresses are eyeing it)."
Talking about the failure of SP and Congress to forge a seat-sharing alliance, Amar Singh said, "We may not have seat-sharing arrangement with it (Congress), we have ideological understanding with Congress, which is more important than seat-sharing."

He made it clear that after the elections, SP would be with a "secular" coalition led by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

How the CPM might de-nuke India

C. Rajamohan
That the CPM leadership has strongly defended its unsuccessful attempt at pulling down the UPA Government on the question of the Indo-US nuclear deal is no surprise. The real debate within the party on the controversial decision to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh Government last year is likely to take place only after the elections.
If the CPM does well and forges a Third Front government, its General Secretary Prakash Karat would be hailed as a hero. If it loses ground in both Bengal and Kerala and becomes marginal to the balance of power in the next Lok Sabha, Karat's decisions are bound to be questioned.
The CPM manifesto, released on Monday, presents a reheated version of its ideological tirade against the Indo-US civil nuclear initiative.
It makes no mention, however, of the latest nuclear agreements that India has signed with France and Russia. That Paris and Moscow would not have resumed nuclear exports to India without the deal with Washington is, of course, a factoid that the CPM would want to simply ignore.
Buried in its ideological tirade against the Indo-US partnership in CPM's manifesto is a little nuclear nugget that deserves wider debate.
The CPM says it will press the next Government to strive for a ‘denuclearised environment in South Asia’!
That New Delhi must get rid of its nuclear weapons in a purely South Asian framework is a proposition that no mainstream Indian political formation has ever supported. The national consensus has always been in favour of total elimination of nuclear weapons in a non-discriminatory global framework. Put simply, India will not give up its nuclear weapons so long as China, US and other great powers have them.
Those who know the CPM will not be shocked to find that the party wants to perpetuate a permanent nuclear imbalance between China and India. To its credit, the CPM has been consistent in its refusal to criticise the Chinese nuclear weapons programme, even when it denounced India's nuclear tests in May 1998.
Less known, however, is the fact that CPM's fantasy for regional nuclear disarmament in South Asia is shared fully by the American non-proliferation hawks who want to 'cap, roll back and eliminate' India's nuclear weapons programme. When the 'non-pro' lobby settles down in the Obama Administration, it knows whom to call on in the putative Third Front to revive their old anti-India nuclear agenda -- the CPM.
(C. Raja Mohan is a Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

NSUI JNU WITHDRAWN FROM JNUSU LED AGITATION

Friends, Date: 4th march, 2009
NSUI withdraws from JNUSU’s ongoing struggle, taking in to account JNUSU’s and left organizations deliberate and blatant attempt to use anti-Manmohan Singh rhetoric and sloganeering to divert the focus from our real issues. It has been observed time and again that JNUSU leadership raise Lal salaam and other provocative slogans in all most all JNUSU Protest Demos and Processions simply ignoring activists of other organizations and a neutral majority who identify with the causes. JNUSU leadership also never heeds NSUI’s long standing demand for keeping JNUSU platform politically neutral. They indirectly promote their cadres to hurt the sentiments of activists from other organizations who sympathize with the causes for which JNUSU is fighting for. In the previous all organizations meetings called in view of UGBM and course of action, NSUI representatives repeatedly appealed to the JNUSU leadership to take note of this and take appropriate steps to prevent such unwanted ideological inclinations of the frenzy cadres.
If their cadres raise slogans of Lenin, Hochimin and Lal salaam in their party functions, it is well and good. What does the majority of JNU students have to do with these names? They should answer to the student community as to why they are unconsciously incorporating party hymns and images in to the minds of students, who identify with the causes, not with their ideology?
Apart from this, UPA and Manmohan Singh has been a constant target for the left and ultra left organizations throughout the protests. We all know the ‘innumerable mistakes’ that Manmohan singh did for the student community of our country- recognition of madrasa certificates for jobs, 27% OBC reservation, increase in UGC fellowships, Rajiv Gandhi fellowships, more UGC funds to JNU etc. What more Manmohan singh can do when a corrupted JNU administration is delaying everything right from the disbursal of Rajiv Gandhi &UGC fellowship or when a highly parochial JNUSU leadership disrupted his speech for narrow political mileage. What the visionary and timely opening up of domestic market to sustain the Indian economy in a changing world order has to do with the electric meter issue which is the creation of a few bankrupt teachers on campus ..
NSUI reminds the JNUSU leadership that they got extension through a UGBM mandate. How could the same JNUSU undermine the mandate of the recent UGBM to intensify the agitation by creating a human blockade in front of the Ad block? Having diluted the spirit of the movement and the UGBM (and having yielded to pressure of teachers who are leftists), AISA and SFI dared to stop the sale of the Forms for which UGBM has not given a mandate. If you have particular agenda, just implement it on your own. What is the point in calling all party meetings and UGBM to waste hours in meaningless discussion? Now the movement has lost its right direction mainly in the sense that our priority is now rustication. The same insensitive attitude was reflected in the workers’ issue previously. The administration is feeding on a political bankruptcy of JNUSU that doesn’t know how to prioritize our issues on time and how to reach the target with popular support.
The outcome of JNUSU’s prolonged struggle not in tandem with the UGBM mandate has mounted enormous distress on the minds of student community which is evident from yesterday’s event where a student climbed the 8th floor of the central library to vent his anger against the JNUSU and the administration for their anti-student and insensitive attitude towards our demands. Left and ultra left political parties can hold any false pride to inflate their anti-national ideology by not hoisting Indian flag on the occasion of Republic or Independence Day, denying felicitating our former President of India A.P.J.Abdul Kalam or disgracing our national symbols and emblems in their posters and pamphlets.But NSUI will not tolerate if this hedonist and anti-student, anti-national, undemocratic, non-secular, and unprogressive attitude is displayed and practiced by JNUSU leadership.
NSUI appeals to the student community to rally behind us and stand against those who wish to pollute the sacrosanct students’ body JNUSU to further their cynical goals and reap cheap political benefits in this campus.

jai hind

CONGRESS-TRINAMUL ALLIANCE IN W BENGAL; CPIM'S NIGHTMARE

A trend that began with the panchayat polls in May 2008, and persisted through the later Nandigram and Sujapur assembly bypolls, was further extended by Sunday’s bypoll result from Bishnupur (West): that the CPM is in decline in rural West Bengal. Moreover, since the Nandigram bypoll, it seems a united opposition will increasingly rob the Left Front of the sleep of the complacent. Soon after the Trinamool’s victory in the Bishnupur bypoll, the Congress and Mamata Banerjee formally announced that they would jointly contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The announcement ended weeks of speculation, and made the Bengal picture clearer for the general elections. Pranab Mukherjee’s camaraderie with Banerjee late on Sunday night, coupled with the Bishnupur defeat, has duly concerned Alimuddin Street, where state CPM leaders admitted that the loss indicated how the party has failed to connect with the voters they had lost during the panchayat polls last year. The CPM certainly appears to be on the back foot in rural Bengal although Banerjee’s visions of an endgame for the CPM may be premature.

To be effective alliances must address both electoral arithmetic and political coherence. Part, but not all, of the reason why the Trinamool won in Bishnupur was the Congress’s withdrawal of its candidate to avoid a split of the anti-Left vote. That, again, is the logic according to which the two parties seem to be working for the general elections. After all, External Affairs Minister Mukherjee, who is also the Bengal Congress chief, has made no secret of his distaste for the kind of politics that has held the state’s development to ransom — symbolised by Singur and Nandigram. In fact, his concurrence with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on that issue had almost jeopardised an alliance with the Trinamool.
Now, as Bhattacharjee warns his party to get its act together, the anti-Left alliance’s task has only just
begun. It would need to work out the kind of politics it wants to project. It would be disastrous for Bengal if the perceived discontent among rural voters is exploited to reverse the industrialisation project. Further, both alliance partners would know that aggregate discontent doesn’t automatically translate into aggregate votes. Meanwhile, the Trinamool-Congress tie-up puts in place another piece in the
national electoral puzzle. It’s to be seen now how this piece impacts the Lok Sabha polls and how it’s factored into post-poll arrangements.

POLLS ANOUNCED

New Delhi: Setting in motion the process for the constitution of the 15th Lok Sabha, the Election Commission today announced polls in five phases from April 16 to May 13. Counting of votes will take place on May 16 and the new House will be constituted by June 2. Assembly elections to Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim will be held along with the Lok Sabha elections.
“The model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect,” said Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami who will demit office on April 20 after the first phase of elections.
The dates for the five-phase elections are April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7 and May 13. Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will vote in five phases, Bihar in four while there will be three phases in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pra-desh, Manipur, Orissa and Punjab will vote in two stages. The remaining 15 states and seven Union Territories will have a single-day poll.
This was announced by CEC Gopalaswami at a press conference, also attended by Election Commissioners Navin B Chawla — he is likely to be the next CEC — and S Y Quraishi.
While the poll panel has of late been in the news for all the wrong reasons, sources said the “poll timeline shows the institution alone counts”.
“The first phase of election is on April 16. The incumbent CEC demits office on April 20, and a new CEC presides over the remaining four phases of elections. One can draw one’s own inference from this,” said a top EC functionary. He said “while the three Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the final schedule, it was the team of the three Deputy Commissioners who ensured that everything fell into place.”
R Balakrishnan, in-charge of overall planning, Alok Shukla, former Chhattisgarh chief electoral officer and now in-charge of computerisation and organisational matters, and J P Prakash, in charge of judicial affairs and administrative issues in the panel, burnt the midnight Oil for close to a month.
The three Deputy Election Commissioners reached the Nirvachan Sadan sharp at 6 am today. In the last one month, they had worked out “at least nine tentative election schedules” that were scrutinised by the three Commissioners. In the last two days, the list, of course, narrowed down considerably. When the three Commissioners met around 11 am today, they didn’t have to spend much time in okaying the five-phase election schedule, as finally worked out by their deputies.

Those involved in drawing the election schedules said “as many as 10 variables like climate, festivals, availability of schools, harvest season etc” had to be factored in while readying the final schedule blueprint. The CEC was particularly concerned over the use of money power in the elections and stressed on “stringent measures to make candidates accountable”.
So, as per the election schedule, in the first phase on April 16, 124 constituencies will go to polls. In the second round on April 23, voters in 141 constituencies will exercise their right. The third phase on April 30 will involve 107 seats, the fourth on May 7 will have 85 seats while 86 constituencies will vote in the last phase on May 13. By-elections to seven Assembly constituencies — four in Nagaland and one each in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Mizoram — will be held simultaneously.
As many as 499 of the total 543 constituencies in the country have been redrawn as a result of the delimitation exercise, Gopalaswami said. The delimitation exercise was not undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland.

The elections will involve use of photo electoral rolls in 522 of the 543 constituencies. At least 71.4 crore voters — an increase of 4.3 crore over the 2004 elections — will be eligible to cast votes. An estimated 40 lakh civil personnel and 21 lakh police personnel will be deployed for the elections. In what marks a first, the poll panel has made sure that paramilitary forces don’t have to crisscross the country — they will only move in “linear direction”. The Election Commission also met the Railway Board chairman to facilitate movement of security forces.

India invited for G20 meet on global crisis

London: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is among the top world leaders who have been invited for the Second G20 Summit to be held here in April, which will discuss ways and means to reinvigorate growth in the wake of the global economic crisis.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose country will host the global economic summit, has sent formal invitations to the world leaders.
"The global economic challenges we face need to be met with decisive action if we are to secure jobs, restore confidence and reinvigorate growth," Brown said yesterday.
Besides leaders from G20 nations, Chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the Chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the President of the EU Commission have also been invited for the summit to be held here on April 2.
The Chairman of the African Union Commission will also attend. This is the second meeting of the grouping after the one in Washington on November 15 hosted by the then US President George W Bush.
"To be effective in addressing this global crisis we have to bring in partners from across the world. For that reason I have issued invitations to the leaders of G20 countries and the Chairs of NEPAD, ASEAN and the African Union will ensure their interests are not forgotten and their voices are heard," Brown said.

BALANDAN'S LETTER STIRS THE TRAJECTORY OF LAVALIN SCAM

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: A letter written by E Balanandan, a former member of the CPM politburo who died last month, on the controversial SNC Lavalin deal is now haunting the party. Balanandan, who headed the party’s trade union, CITU, and a Kerala government-appointed panel on power reforms, had written to CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat on August 8, 2005 that the party “had lost its face over the deal.”
“We committed a grave mistake. Our party has lost its face. The deal with SNC Lavalin was not only a wrong decision, but the manner in which it was inked and the project implemented was an insult to the normal procedures in this regard. This deal would spoil the party and trigger a revolt within,” he said.
The letter is published in the latest issue of Janasakthi, a magazine brought out by former CPM members, purged from the party.
The CPM has described the CBI’s move to prosecute Pinarayi Vijayan, the state party chief, in the SNC Lavalin case as “politically motivated” while Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has distanced himself from the party line.
Vijayan was the state power minister when the Government signed a deal with the Canadian company to get new plants for hydel projects in the state. When Balanandan wrote the letter to Karat, the state vigilance department had not even completed the probe into the case. The CBI took over the probe much later.
The party could have legally come out of this “shameful deal” and thus saved its face and protected the interest of the state, he said, detailing the irregularities in the deal. Balanandan, however, had not named anyone in the letter.
When contacted, Karat refused to comment. “I don’t talk about things that have a dishonest motive,” he said. His Politburo colleague S Ramachandran Pillai said: “I am not aware of it and I have no idea about this particular letter.”
The issues Balanandan raised in his letter were:
*The MoU route was wrong. There had been no proper contract to ensure that the grant promised by SNC Lavalin reached Malabar Cancer Centre.
*The renovation contract was given to the foreign firm, disregarding BHEL which was ready to take up the work for Rs 105 crore. The deal with Lavalin had cost the government Rs 374.5 crore.
*It is wrong to say that the Left government could not walk out of the deal initiated by the Congress-led government. As per Clause 13 of the consultancy pact signed by the Congress government on 24 February, 1996, the actual deal would come into effect only when certain conditions were honoured.
Balanandan said that the final deal was signed 10 days after his committee had submitted its report to the government. The panel had advised the Government against the deal.
“Lavalin escaped, but our party lost its face,” Balanandan concluded the letter requesting the party chief to look into the matter. Exactly a month later, he wrote another letter to Karat, detailing the technical flaws of the deal and the project.

CARTOON BY EP UNNY

CPIM Kerala state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan to be arraigned in SNC LAVALIN corruption case

The CPIM Kerala State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan is to be charge sheeted by the CBI for criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of position in the 390 crore SNC-LAVALIN scam.
Pinarayi vijayan, the leader of the Marxists in Kerala, under whose leadership, the CPIM (Private Limited) has become one of the largest business organizations in Kerala with the setting up of TV channels, amusement parks, has been exposed by the CBI in a memo submitted before the Special Judge for CBI Cases- I, Ernakulam.
The agreement with SNC-LAVALIN Company was signed by the CPIM led government of 1997 in order to augment the capacity of three hydroelectric projects in Kerala and the then minister for electricity, Pinarayi Vijayan mislead the government and ignored the dissent of several officials of Kerala state electricity board to enter this illegal contract which caused a loss of Rs 390 crores of public money. The mandatory sanctions of the central government and central electricity authority were not sought for this agreement either.
The contract was signed by Lavalin and KSEB by ignoring E Balanandan Committee report received a week ago recommending the replacement of essential parts alone at around 100 crores. (Friends, remember the poster that was pasted in our campus few days back, citing the demise of comrade Balanandan, and now they will come with posters endorsing Saint Pinarayi Vijayan’s innocence!)
Another serious discrepancy regarding the SNC-LAVALIN case is an agreement to provide a grant of Rs 100 crores for setting up a cancer center in Malabar. However, the proposed cancer center received jut Rs 12 crores from the Canadian company and where is the rest of the money, comrades, the guardians of political ethics and values ???
Now, the comrades in Kerala are organizing a massive state wide rally ironically titled ‘New Kerala rally’, led by none other than Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan, meaning that Kerala will ultimately ruled by the likes of Pinarayi!
Comrades, where are you? Waiting before your masters in AKG Bhavan to get the Goebbelsian propaganda up and running to whitewash their benevolent provider from Kerala. Commissar Karat, why are you so silent? How juicy was the bite?
Shame on CPIM, for robbing off the money meant for cancer patients!

NSUI FELICITATES HIBI EDEN

NSUI JNU UNIT CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND
FELICITATION CEREMONY
OF
H I B I E D E N
(National President, NSUI)

Introduction: SIMMY JOSEPH, President, JNU NSUI
Guest Speakers:
MEENAKSHI NATRAJAN, Secretary, AICC
ASHOK TANWAR, National President, Indian Youth Congress (IYC)
Dr. CHANDAN KUMAR YADAV, General Secretary, IYC
SHAMIM AKTHAR, Former President, JNU NSUI
BATILAL BAIRVA, Former Secretary, IYC, Former JNUSU President
Dr. PREM CHAND, Former President, JNU NSUI
WASEEM SAGHAR AZMI, Former President, JNU NSUI
Dr. ZAHID UL HAQ, Vice President, Bihar State Youth Congress
Tapti Mess, 17th January (Saturday), 9:30 p.m.

NSUI JNU TEAM PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL ATTACKS IN GAZA

How many children and Women? How many destroyed families, shattered dreams, smiles, laughter?
Stop this genocide NOW!
NSUI JNU strongly condemns the barbaric killings at Gaza and appeals to all the concerned students to...

NSUI JNU TOOK PART IN THE PROTEST DEMO AT JANTAR MANTAR ORGANISED BY PALESTINE STUDENT'S UNION ON 10/1/09. SRI ADV. SAJEEV JOSEPH, CHAIRMAN INDIAN YOUTH CONGRESS-HUMAN RIGHTS CELL ADDRESSED THE GATHERING AND TERMED THE ATTACKS AS A VIOLATION OF NATURAL RIGHTS. HE ASSERTED ON THE RETHINKING ON INDO-ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. HARSH VARDHAN, GEN. SEC. OF NSUI JNU CONDEMNED THE ISRAELI ATTACKS AND CALLED IT AS AN UNJUST AND BRUTAL WAR. NSUI JNU PRESIDENT SIMMY JOSEPH LED THE NSUI DELEGATION. ABHILASH RAMESH, K.S.RAJESH KUMAR, PREMJISH, MADAN, TAUQEER ALAM, ANDMUNEER WERE PRESENT.