Articles by MR

MR THE shouting and the sunshine have been restored to the hearts of all those traifickiug in public credulity. But, in fact, the Congress showing at the inini- gemcral elections, covering a fifth of the population, was neither sweeping nor spectacular; it Jailed to win even a bare majority in three of the four legislative assemblies it tried to capture with the help of the CIT or the Con- gress(O). But in Uttar Pradesh it won a victory of sorts. The victory might not be convincing because the majority is wafer-thin and the Congress had 271 members in the out-going Assembly, albeit a third of them defectors. The 1969 tally had been only 211 and the party had split since. Vet the UP verdict is claimed to be conclusive because the Congress has a house majority of its own fur the first time since 1962.


paid workers and nothing for the better paid. Even though a parallel freeze has been Imposed on prices, they have crept up three per cent since the imposition of the freeze without the government being able to do anything about it. Not that it cares. In all their anti-worker propaganda, the newspapers and surveys have failed to mention that the top fifty firms in Britain last year made a record average profit of

September 30, 1972 vast majority of the population are focused upon the serious drought situation which is even more severe than in the past two years and upon the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities. Whether it be adequate and equitably distributed relief or the opening of more official retail outlets for the distribution of not only foodgrains but also other essential com modities, nothing much would happen if there is no energetic mass action and intervention. Agitation and action are essential if the burden of the present crisis is not to be passed on to toil-bent backs. This is their indispensable value whatever certain very worthy and energetic leaders might aver. And this is already happening in awakening Andhra.