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On December 21, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar released the standard operating procedure (SOP) of using drones in agriculture. Less than a week ago, on December 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed farmers and people associated with the food processing industry at the 3-day National Conclave on Natural Farming at Anand in Gujarat. And on November 29, Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, without any discussion. These three developments in less than a month signify that the farm sector is finally getting the attention it always deserved.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dilemma over labour reforms deepens after his own Economic Advisory Council (EAC) has said in its report that the four labour codes, which he himself had lauded on several occasions and the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment is readying itself to implement across the country soon, did not take a comprehensive view of all labour laws.

26th December 2021 marks the 96th foundation day of CPI. Throughout the history of India CPI has played a crucial role on different occasions in leading the people through unerring paths. The sacrifices of our comrades and the resistance of the party against imperial Britain, amidst the ban imposed by colonial law, cannot be encrusted by anyone. In this era where the government stands for the capitalists by the capitalists and of the capitalists it is indispensable for us to evoke the memories of historical movements and actions by CPI. In the search for a secular, people centric alternative to counter fascism we have enormous examples how CPI stood for the people and fought for their welfare. We have set examples of an excellent government and struggles for the rights and wellbeing of the people. Our fight against fascism and capitalism will never end.

Ninety-six years back, on December 26, 1925, the Communist Party of India was born. The CPI is intrinsically and organically linked to the country and has given leadership to some of the proudest and most progressive movements in the modern history of our Republic. It all started with the coming together of highly motivated and ideologically driven comrades, who were not fully satisfied with the Gandhian movement and wanted to make the agenda more radical and progressive. These comrades, from all parts of the country, came together for the first time in the historic Kanpur conference.

JAMMU: D K Barooah was at one time president of the Congress, succeeding ShankerDayal Sharma and handing over the baton of presidency to Indira Gandhi when his term finished. Not many today know how the party’s top position came to him but he is remembered for a coinage allegedly attributed to him ``India is Indira, Indira is India’’. Was it for scaling such highs, or lows, of sycophancy that he was rewarded by Mrs Gandhi? He parted company with her some time later and went to a splinter group called Congress (Urs) founded by Devraj Urs.

There is this transfer from zee to 'news', an anchor who has a unique style—he coaxes “guests” into committing themselves, with questions that cajole them into admissions— that they are either anti-India or anti-Hindu. This journalist’s TV shows are a hit with folks in the Hindi-viewership category. You ‘zee’, that is the reason why the 'news' poached him.

The basic premise of the business model of a gig economy is having a large pool of workers at all times. This large supply of workers is then matched with fluctuating demand for services. The ever-expanding supply of workers then leads to increased competition and willingness to work at a low remuneration. The platforms can then provide services at low prices, which helps them undercut their competitors and create its own monopoly in the market.

The year 2022 is going to be full of challenges for peace and health. On one side mankind has been grappling with COVID pandemic for the last two years and on the other increasing expenditure on arms race is draining away resources which are desperately needed to meet the challenge of the pandemic. Developing countries are the worst sufferers in such situation.

In China, President Xi Jinping is acting decisively. Authorities there have shut down a city of 13 million because of Covid. People in Xi’an have been ordered to shut themselves indoors. This, after a spike in coronavirus cases. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not want lockdowns to pull down billboards featuring him. His pollster image cannot be allowed to suffer.

The fear has now become reality. The amendment to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act enabling the state to declare a person ‘terrorist’ even without any connection with a terrorist organization is being rampantly misused across the country. It is shocking that persons who are exposing state terror even before the United Nations Human Rights body are also being booked as terrorist, apart from those who voice their dissent against government policies and actions.