SINCE Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution which confers some special privileges on the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir has become a very hot topic, we need to go back in history and trace the genesis of the present conspiracy which aims at the deletion of this provision. It is essential to note that the accession of J&K to the Indian Union was made under special circumstances and was distinct in comparison to other states.

After independence, the government of India took an initiative to establish a liberal democratic education system in general and higher education in particular to build a strong human resource base for the country.

SPEAKER after speaker called for unity among the journalists fraternity to fight the onslaught of the Chandrasekhar Rao government which was threatening the freedom of press.

The speakers lambasted the TRS government for adopting a dictatorial attitude towards the journalists at a round table meeting on "Government's attitude towards media and journalists" at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad on August 11. 

DIFFERENT organisations of scheme workers affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions came together on July 11 in Pune and formed a state co-ordination committee of scheme workers. The organisations represented in the meeting were, Anganwadi Karmachari Sanghatana, State ASHA and Group Facilitator Federation (Maharashtra Rajya ASHA va Gatpravartak Federation), Mid-Day Meal Workers Union (Maharashtra Shaleya Poshan Ahar Kamgar Sanghatana) and Child Labour Project Workers Union (Bal Kamgar Shikshak va Sevak Union). They elected Salim Patel as adhoc convenor.

HUMAN chains were organised throughout West Bengal on August 15 with the call of defending secular democracy. In Kolkata, and most of the districts, human chain was observed for 10 minutes from 11am. An oath was read in thousand voices.

In Kolkata, a five km long chain was organised in central part of the city- from Subodh Mullick square to Park Circus. Thousands of people, along with Left leaders participated in this chain. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Left Front chairman Biman Basu, CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Misra participated in this chain.