TENS of thousands of people marched in Kolkata on July 12 strongly denouncing communal forces and hailing the state’s legacy of harmony.  The huge rally once again expressed the determination to thwart the attempts of communal polarisation in West Bengal.West Bengal has witnessed communal tension and polarisation, sporadic clashes in recent times. These incidents, a rarity for almost four decades, have haunted the atmosphere of the state. The most recent disturbances took place in some parts of North 24 Parganas, including Baduria, Basirhat.

A CONVENTION on ‘the Soviet Revolution and Effects of Neoliberalisation’ was organised in Gaya in Bihar on July 9. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat addressed the convention at the Hasrat Mohani Auditorium. He spoke on the background of the Russian revolution and its successes in the fields of education, food distribution, health care and eradication of unemployment. He explained how this socialist revolution heralded a new era in the history of mankind, by giving equal rights to women in society.

SINCE the start of July, communal conflagration and tensions mounted in large parts of North 24 Parganas district. The district, along with Howrah, Birbhum and Maldaha, has witnessed communal clashes in recent months. Major areas of disturbances this time are in Basirhat, Bangaon, Barasat sub division. Apparently it started with a derogatory Facebook post attacking Islam and its holy places. The identified culprit is a teenager, but whether he acted on his own or had any RSS links, is not clear.

TO say that the current conditions in valley (especially in South Kashmir) are alarming is really an understatement. They are worsening day by day coupled with a massive increase in people’s anger. The brutal lynching of a police officer in Srinagar, the audacious but cruel attack on police party in Achabal, Anantnag, and the recurring attempts of women, men and children to save militants in every encounter are really the worst tipping points of this whole grim scenario. In all, precious lives are being lost and blood is being shed mindlessly.

ADDRESSING the media in Rohtak on June 30, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury demanded the self styled cow vigilante groups to be outlawed  for their unabated criminal activities in the form of lynching mobs targeting especially the citizens belonging to minority communities and dalits. He expressed dissatisfaction over the belated response of the prime minister commenting that Mahatma Gandhi would have never accepted killings in the name of cows while he did not reveal what his government was doing to effectively deal with the lynch mobs or so called Romeo squads.