THE possibilities of persistent inflation seem to be looming large and a resultant contraction in demand primarily because of a cost-of-living squeeze is going to impact the growth rate, the forecast of which undergoes a downward revision in recent rounds by most rating agencies. The Russia-Ukraine war and the consequent rise in fuel and food prices are not going to cool down soon. Prices of food, metals, fertilizers and edible oil are on the rise at a global level driven by supply bottlenecks created by the war.

THE All India Kisan Sabha in a statement issued on June 9, noted that the Modi government has once again defrauded farmers by making meagre increases in the minimum support prices (MSP) for Kharif crops. In the MSP announced for Kharif 2022-23, MSP for rice, maize, tur, urad and groundnut has been increased by just 7 per cent, and for Bajra by just 8 per cent. In most crops, the increases barely cover the general inflation in the economy.

ON Friday, June 3, in Kanpur, immediately after the Namaaz, clashes broke out in one particular locality, Yatimkhana-Parade Crossing.  There was brick-batting, a few people were injured and hospitalised and the immediate intervention by the police ensured that the clash ended within half an hour.  Compared to clashes in earlier years which led to rioting and spread to other parts of the city and which saw police firing claiming several lives, what happened on the 3rd was not a very serious affair but it has dominated headlines and TV channels for several days.

Around 6,000 workers including 2,500 women workers of Madurai Corporation are on an indefinite strike from May 30 demanding regularisation of 389 contract workers as per court order, withdrawal of contract system in the corporation, disbursal of pension benefits to workers retired since 2017, supply of equipment and safety gears and stopping of vindictive actions of transfers. The protest is led by CITU and other workers unions. CPI(M) has extended support to the protest and to the demands raised. 

IT is eight years since Narendra Modi became prime minister of India, heading an NDA government. The BJP is observing this anniversary in a big way, combining it with their election campaign for some state assembly elections due later this year, Gujarat being one of the important ones. The ruling party organised a meeting of all its national and state office bearers recently in Jaipur where a long statement narrating various achievements of the Modi government was issued. Also declared in this meeting was a triple slogan for marking the anniversary from May 30 to June 15.