VETERAN journalist Praful Bidwai, 66, passed away on June 23 in Amsterdam where he was attending a conference. Praful, a friend of all Left wing causes and one of the most trenchant critics of the Hindutva agenda as also of neo-liberal policies authored several books and wrote a syndicated column carried by several newspapers. His articles which brought a Left wing analysis to critical subjects from foreign policy to political economy and social issues, were most well researched, providing valuable information and analysis to those in struggle. During the fight against the Indo-US nuclear deal, Praful was one of the leading intellectuals who strongly supported the position taken by the Left parties against the deal. He was one of the founder members along with AchinVanaik of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace.

Praful Bidwai was cremated in New Delhi on June 26. Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, M A Baby, Polit Bureau members of the CPI(M) and Sudhakar Reddy, general secretary of the CPI, D Raja (CPI) Kavita Krishnan (CPI-ML) and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia were present along with hundreds of friends and admirers of Praful Bidwai.

Sitaram Yechury , CPI(M) general secretary had earlier sent a condolence message to the friends of Praful Bidwai.