Aishik Saha

The arrest of former President Jacob Zuma on the charges of corruption has resulted in a wave of violence and unrest in South Africa. What is even more concerning is the fact that the violence has resulted in increased ethnic tensions in a country where apartheid was ended less than 30 years ago. This has led to divisions regarding the fundamental cause of the violence as well as what responses should be given to it.

Data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has pointed out that unemployment in India has risen from 6.5% in March to 13% in June. Urban unemployment increased to as much as 9.78%. These figures demonstrate that despite the Modi government’s repeated claims to the contrary, the rapid rate of job losses have not stopped. The evidence was corroborated by a survey released by IHS Markit that demonstrated the rapid rate of loss of jobs in key sectors like manufacturing.

The G7 Summit, held between 11th and 13th June in Cornwall, UK in the backdrop of the ongoing COVID19 crisis and the deadly ‘second wave’ of infections in India. Key issues on the agenda were to ensure effective and rapid vaccination, climate change, and an end to tax havens. India was invited by the UK along with Australia, South Korea, and South Africa to be a part of the summit.

The recent events in the union territory of Lakshadweep are a matter of deep concern. All signs point towards a deeply disturbing plot that is unfolding on this archipelago in the Indian Ocean under the administration of Praful Patel, the former home minister of Gujarat, who took over after the former administrator Dineshwar Sharma passed away from lung disease.

“There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
- Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine, on being asked why he did not patent his vaccine

The Modi Government is bullying the microblogging platform Twitter again. The Delhi Police Special Cell on the evening of 24th May, raided the office of Twitter in the National Capital in connection with a probe over the alleged ‘Congress toolkit’, seemingly unaware that the office was closed due to the COVID lockdown. This has led to speculation that this has less to do with the ‘investigation’ and more to do with sending a message to the company.

The debate in Bengal over the identification of the principal enemy has elicited a response from the CPI(M)’s mouthpiece. Let us examine the claims made by People’s Democracy.