EMS Smrithi 2018 this year was without its founder and driving spirit, Chandradutt; or Duttmash, as he was fondly called. He passed away on March 20 from the recurrence of cancer that he had fought for the last 22 years. Even though he was not present at the final event, his was the plan for this edition of the series. It was he who pushed for the focus to be on Marxism, Science and Technology, and guided us in selecting the speakers. For all of us, this year’s EMS Smrithi was our tribute to Duttmash.

Manik Sarkar Obstructed in GandachharraTHE opposition leader and former chief minister Manik Sarkar was obstructed from entering the Government Dak Bungalow on June 11, by 15-20 goons of BJP in Gandachharra of Dhalai district. Sarkar is on a four-day tour of Dhalai and North Tripura districts with opposition's chief whip Tapan Chakraborty and MLA Prabhat Choudhury to visit the areas of Gandachharra, Langtaraivalley and Kanchanpur subdivisions where people, especially in tribal areas, are facing an acute problem of food and joblessness.

THE CPI(M) held a two months campaign since April 2, 2018 against the continuous persecution of dalits and held a massive public meeting in Fulbagh, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Through the meeting the CPI(M) demanded immediate release of innocent dalits, arrest of the murderers, a judicial inquiry by a High Court judge, compensation of Rs One crore to the families of the deceased and an ordinance to correct the Supreme Court order on the Prevention of Atrocities Act.Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury termed the repression against dalits as highly reprehensible.

MURDEROUS attacks on the opposition continue in West Bengal after blood-soaked panchayat elections in the state. Recent targets are those who won the elections braving terror and heinous attacks. In a gruesome incident, CPI(M) supporter Rajan Ali Mian was brutally murdered in Coochbehar district.The CPI(M) candidate Atabul Islam won in one seat in Harirbari village under Jamaldaha village panchayat in Mekhliganj in Coochbehar district. Atabul, a former SFI leader, is popular in his village. He was the only opposition candidate who won in that village panchayat.

THE first death anniversary of the six kisans who were shot dead in Mandsaur was observed by the BJP government and the kisan organisations in their own way.The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government turned the state into a fortress of police, fearing the fury and anger of the kisans. For a week, the print and visual media in the state was flooded with false achievements and promises of the government. The kisan organisations as part of the all India protest call, held a demonstration in Mandsaur.