Packaging the Tatas146; project

With the party in West Bengal trying to convince Left allies about setting up development projects on agricultural land, it was perhaps expected that the CITU rally in Singur

With the party in West Bengal trying to convince Left allies about setting up development projects on agricultural land, it was perhaps expected that the CITU rally in Singur, where the Tatas plan to set up their small-car plant, should focus on the 8220;lie campaign8221; against the project and set the record straight. Only, in this case they sounded pretty much like the corporates and economists they often oppose elsewhere. At the rally, CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty said the large gathering showed people wanted 8220;to thwart all counter-development efforts of the vested interests.8221; Adding that since agriculture iasn8217;t providing opportunities, industrialisation is necessary to create employment.

Paranoid racial profiling

The global war against terror has led to racial profiling and paranoid actions, says a lead editorial in People8217;s Democracy following the arrest of 12 Indians from NW in Amsterdam. It reasons that the US-led global war on terror has reached 8220;inhuman heights of persecution and paranoia8230;It simply reeks of racial prejudices8230;and is a most abominable violation of basic human rights.8221; Not sparing India8217;s establishment, it says there were 8220;shades of paranoia8221; in the aftermath of 7/11 which would 8220;directly feed the terrorists and enlarge the catchment area for their recruitment8221;.

Water-workers8217; woes

The CPM has had a face-off with the Himachal government and labour contractors at NHPC8217;s Chamera hydel project in Chamba. People8217;s Democracy reports a rally at Delhi8217;s HP Bhawan last week on the alleged torture of CITU8217;s HP state secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur and the labour law violations at Chamera III. Going beyond CITU, the CPM politburo also asked for action against Upendra Thakur, DSP of Chamba, for alleged police atrocities. CITU has been trying to form a workers8217; union at Chamera III and was protesting against non-payment of wages. They say the construction company tried to begin work without the existing unpaid workmen. When CITU objected Kashmir Singh Thakur was picked up by the police.

8212; Compiled by Ananda Majumdar