FOR some time now, Yogi Adityanath’s reign in Uttar Pradesh is being held up as a model.  A leading publication named him the best chief minister in India for two years in a row; his efforts to curb crime have been lauded; his handling of the twin Corona and migrant crises have been highly praised. Of late, things had started unravelling and now the horrific killing of at least eight policemen on the night of July 2/3 in Kanpur Dehat by a notorious criminal and his gang threatens to reduce his reputation to tatters. 

THE successful three days strike of coal workers from July 2-4, has been historical. Production in 436 coal mines and 176 other establishments of Coal India and SCCL was stopped and more than 5.3 lakh permanent workers and workers hired by the contractors had participated in this historical strike of coal industry.

A QUADRIPARTITE agreement was signed in New Delhi on January 16, 2020, for permanent settlement of Bru or Reang refugees, who were ousted from Mizoram and took shelter in different camps in Tripura. The four parties of the agreement are the union government, Mizoram government, Tripura government and leaders of the Reang refugees. The meeting for signing the agreement was presided over by the union home minister and the chief ministers of the two states and refugee leaders.

Below we publish reports from the states on the protests organised by the Left Parties demanding the central government to sharply reduce the excise duties on petroleum products, and reduce its prices.
West Bengal

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association, represented by its national vice president Subhashini Ali, and by the Kanpur district committee president and secretary of AIDWA, Neelam Tiwari and Sudha Singh,  have submitted a memorandum to the chairperson of National Human Rights Commission on June 24, on the notice issued by the NHRC to Uttar Pradesh DGP and chief secretary regarding Rajkiya Bal Sanrakshan Griha, Kanpur.