IN a first of its kind, more than hundred mass organisations in West Bengal have formed a common platform to fight on burning issues of the people. Trade Unions, peasant organisations, teachers’ organisations, student-youth-women organisations and representative organisations of all sections of people have joined in this platform, which has been named ‘Bengal Platform of Mass Organisations” (BPMO). This platform will organise a mass convention on September  28 to finalise the schedule of movements.

The following is the statement supporting AR Rahman, issued by SAHMAT on September 17.

WE welcome and whole-heartedly support the statement of musician AR Rahman where he speaks about his decision to compose music for the Iranian film ‘Muhammad: Messenger of God”’. He has thoughtfully struck the right note as he has answered questions raised (completely out of line) by the Raza Academy, about why he chose to compose songs for the film.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on September 11, 2015.

THE Polit Bureau denounces the growing instances of violation of the constitutional fundamental right of personal life, freedom and liberty of Indian citizens, by enforcing strictures on lifestyle and dietary habits of the people.

This is an integral part of the RSS design to impose Hindutva values and create communal polarisation.

PROFESSOR M M Kalburgi, a renowned Kannada scholar and writer, was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad of Karnataka in the morning of August 30, sending shock waves across the state as well as the country. This is the first case of a writer/scholar being killed in Karnataka, and in all likelihood due to the fear of “adverse impact” of his scholarship on communal discourse in the state.