Condemning the ‘regional chauvinism’ baring its head in Maharashtra, the CPM attributes it to Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s attempt to seek to establish his independent identity.Regional chauvinism of the kind displayed recently in Maharashtra is “anti-constitutional in both letter and spirit”. It must be rebuffed in the defence of modern India and for maintaining and strengthening a healthy democratic polity, it says. This is all the more necessary at a time when the ‘neo-liberal’ economic reforms have led to sharpened growth of regional economic inequalities. This forces the migration of people from the backward regions to seek gainful employment in the developed centres. In the long run, a strategy for balanced economic development is the surest guarantee against the growth of regional chauvinism and its disastrous consequences, says the editorial. Launch with a purposeThe launch of an Israeli satellite — TecSar — into orbit from Sriharikota marks a ‘decisive step’ in India’s security collaboration with Israel, says the CPM. As per the agreement between the two countries, two more satellites are to be launched, says an article in People’s Democracy quoting Israeli media. “This satellite is intended to spy on Iran. Syria is another country which will also be under the satellite’s surveillance,” it says. By launching the Israeli satellite, India has dramatically signalled its change of stance, says the Left. Alongside the launch of the Israeli satellite, news comes of India’s reluctance to attend talks in Tehran for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline scheduled to be held in the second week of February. Time and again, India is adopting a ‘go-slow approach’ with the US constantly demanding India abandon the pipeline project, it says. According to the article, “The UPA government has adopted a harmful course. The US-Israel-India link-up is becoming increasingly evident”. Israel has become the second largest supplier of weapons to India after Russia. “The satellite launch is part of the burgeoning military and security collaboration with Israel with US blessings. By this alliance with Israel, India is turning its back on its traditional friends in West Asia,” it says.US crisis and us Referring to the US financial crisis, senior CPM leader Nilotpal Basu says in an article that the worst apprehensions have come true giving rise to a nightmare regarding the global financial system. That the US financial crisis is not a figment of the imagination of the Left or Keynesian ‘doomsayers’ is evident, he says. What had started as a sub prime crisis in the housing sector was just the tip of the iceberg — from the mortgage to the debt market to the insurance and finally to interbank lending — all sectors of the financial system have now become vulnerable. “With all humility, let the finance minister be reminded of his government’s overzealous enthusiasm for making the Indian rupee convertible on capital account. One shudders at what havoc that would have spelt for the Indian economy in the light of these current developments,” says the CPM leader. SC/ST scholarshipsThe Left questions the government’s move to fix minimum eligibility criteria of 60 per cent marks for post-matric scholarships arguing that most of the SC/ST students are studying in government institutions. The failure of the government to provide necessary funds to government institutions is depriving the students enrolled there of quality education. “This being the state of affairs how can one expect 60 per cent marks from the SC/ST children?” asks an article in People’s Democracy. It is amply clear that the government is more concerned about saving resources by reducing the number of scholarships, it says. There is another important reason behind this decision. The government had agreed to phase out all the subsidies provided to students in Indian education institutions and ensure a ‘level playing field’ to the foreign institutions as per commitments made in WTO. “It is to fulfil this promise that the government is starting with a slow reduction in the number of scholarships and unless checked now may ultimately do away with them”, it says.
