CounterCurrents: Will A Gandhi Like Figure Emerge To Fight Demonetisation ?

Dear Friend,

Mexican's are striking a sharp spike in fuel prices. Yesterday also saw indications that localized protests by workers may be developing into a broader strike movement. Fourteen thousand bus, truck and taxi drivers in the oil-producing state of Veracruz announced a statewide strike of indefinite length, with many leaving their trucks, cabs, and buses parked on the street.

In India petrol/diesel prices are hiked on  a monthly basis, even when crude oil prices were falling globally. Incidentally, tax on petrol/diesel is one of the main sources of government revenue. 

Indians don't protest ! Even when 86 % of their currency is confiscated by the government overnight! Why is that?

Yesterday, a dear friend of mine from USA sent me this mail regarding the demonetisation in India. "Somebody in your country needs to organize something like Gandhi’s salt march against the monetary situation. They need to go to government sites and protest peacefully. Look at Boston. If we can do this, so can people in India! Mobilize, I recommend!" I wrote a short reply to her.  I posted it here with the headline "Will A Gandhi Like Figure Emerge To Fight Demonetisation?". That's a big question. An answer may be found in the months and years to come. 

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In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org




Strikes Spread In Mexico, Thousands Of Police Deployed To Capital
by Neil Hardt

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/strikes-spread-in-mexico-thousands-of-police-deployed-to-capital/

Police made up to 600 arrests throughout Mexico yesterday as protests continued against President Enrique Pena Nieto’s cut to gas subsidies, known colloquially as the gasolinazo. One police officer was killed during confrontations in an impoverished neighborhood of Mexico City, and the mayor deployed 9,000 police to guard commercial centers throughout the city.




Will A Gandhi Like Figure Emerge To Fight Demonetisation?
by Binu Mathew

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/will-a-gandhi-like-figure-emerge-to-fight-demonetisation/

A dear friend of mine from USA sent me this mail regarding the demonetisation in India. "Somebody in your country needs to organize something like Gandhi’s salt march against the monetary situation. They need to go to government sites and protest peacefully. Look at Boston. If we can do this, so can people in India! Mobilize, I recommend!" I wrote a short reply to her. Here it is





The Welcome Condemnation Of Israeli Settlement Expansion
by Richard Falk  

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/the-welcome-condemnation-of-israeli-settlement-expansion/

While keeping open a suspicious eye, it is important to acknowledge positive aspects of the Kerry speech: It did create a stir by its sharp criticism of Israel’s policies on settlements, as well as open doors to debate and broke the silence that was enabling Israel to proceed with its plans for territorial expansion. In the period ahead, we may even become nostalgic for the posture, even if mainly hypocritical, of seeking a peaceful, negotiated future for the Palestinian people. Or maybe the stripping away of illusions will highlight the continued dependence of the Palestinians on struggle and solidarity.





On Trump’s Plan To Replace Obamacare
by Mateo Pimentel 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/on-trumps-plan-to-replace-obamacare/

Under Trump’s health policy reform plan entitled “Healthcare Reform to Make America Great Again,” there are three proposed changes to healthcare reform that warrant immediate address. That is because they suffice to prove that Trump’s replacement of the PPACA, at least, in the way he has elaborated it, will doubtless result in failure






U.S. Special Operations Forces Deploy To 138 Nations, 70% Of The World’s Countries
by Nick Turse 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/u-s-special-operations-forces-deploy-to-138-nations-70-of-the-worlds-countries/

In 2016, according to data provided to TomDispatch by SOCOM, the U.S. deployed special operators to China (specifically Hong Kong), in addition to eleven countries surrounding it -- Taiwan (which China considers a breakaway province), Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Laos, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan. Special Operations Command does not acknowledge sending commandos into Iran, North Korea, or Russia, but it does deploy troops to many nations that ring them.






The War On Experts: Brexit, Populism And Sir Ivan Rogers’ Resignation
by Dr Binoy Kampmark

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/the-war-on-experts-brexit-populism-and-sir-ivan-rogers-resignation/

In the turmoil that is modern Britain, the resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers offers a rather brutal example of this in action. As Britain’s former EU ambassador, he was meant to be the expert in formulating some plan of action regarding his country’s exit from the European Union. What he found instead were few plans in the offing, and a refusal to accept the complexity of the task at hand.






Why Is The Indian Government Wary Of Dialogue With Movement Leaders In Kashmir?
by Dr P S Sahni  

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/why-is-the-indian-government-wary-of-dialogue-with-movement-leaders-in-kashmir/

Prime Minister NarendraModi ought to delve into the works of Plato, the greatest philosopher of ancient Greece born in Athens in 428 or 427 B.C. Plato’s works are in the form of dialogues, where several characters argue a topic by asking questions of each other. Modi has reportedly gifted a copy of Bhagavad Gita to President Obama of U.S.A. and to the Japanese Emperor Akihito. Gita itself is set in a narrative framework of a dialogue between Arjun and Lord Krishna. At the most minimal NarendraModi would appreciate the importance of a dialogue. Even in the later day developments of Peace building, dialogue is one of the primary concepts in the process of conflict resolution.





Book Review-Inside The Secret World Of BJP’s Digital Army
by T Navin 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/06/book-review-inside-the-secret-world-of-bjps-digital-army/

Swati Chaturvedi's book "I am a Troll: Inside the secret world of the BJPs digital army" delves into the secret world of BJP’s digital army and exposes it inside out. Basing on investigative journalism, the book shows how the internet trolls through usage of twitter accounts use abusive, communal and sexually loaded messages and try to crush dissent voices. It brings out the BJP connection of the online trolls.