THE people charmed by Manu are concerned about miracles but are not bothered by the sufferings of people. Rulers who talk about yagnas, pushkaras and holy places are not worried about the people who toil day and night to fill their stomachs. They will not talk about caste discrimination, caste domination or equity and justice. Those who have been enjoying reservation on property for generations together, will naturally be influenced by Manuvad and not by humanitarian concerns.

THE Delhi state committee of the CPI(M) held a demonstration in front of the Delhi Secretariat on the burning issues of the working people of the state, on February 22. Thousands of workers and activists participated in huge numbers demanding implementation of universal public distribution system in Delhi in its true letter and spirit. While protesters were moving towards the secretariat, police blocked them near the Express building. A protest meeting was held there.CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat and KM Tiwari, Delhi state secretary of CPI(M) addressed the demonstration.

CPI(M) senior leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, on February 18, has termed the rally organised by a fringe right-wing group using the tricolour, demanding the release of the accused in the brutal rape-and-murder case of an eight-year-old Bakerwal girl in Kathua district, as most shameful and against human values.The rally is an indication of dangers confronting Jammu and Kashmir. By supporting the accused the ‘Hindu Ekta Manch’ has shamelessly displayed their communal intentions.

THE three-day 22nd Assam state conference of the CPI(M) concluded at Silpagram in Guwahati on February 6, with a clarion call to intensify the struggle against neo-liberal economic policies and the politics of communal divide being pursued by the present ruling dispensation both at the centre and in the state, and to build up a Left-democratic alternative. The conference started with a huge public rally on February 4 at Sonaram H S School ground. More than 15,000 people belonging to different religious, linguistic and ethnic groups attended the rally.

 IN West Bengal, the TMC has just won Uluberia Lok Sabha bye election and Noapara assembly bye election. In Uluberia, they have won with a margin of more than 4 lakhs. In Noapara, the difference is more than 63 thousand. It is being touted as a ‘big victory for the development policies of Mamata government’. Even a section of secular political forces are bewildered by these ‘huge’ margins.The fact remains that not even a semblance of free and fair voting took place in both the constituencies. Hundreds of armed TMC activists, even ‘voters’ were imported from different sections.