THE Swadhin Trust, a Kolkata-based financial firm with questionable credentials, has recently launched a medical college in Agartala under the name Shantiniketan Medical College. This institution has utilised the infrastructure, including newly constructed multi-storied buildings, originally developed by the Left Front government for upgrading health services at IGM Hospital (Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital).

AT the call of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajasthan state committee, protests were held across the state, at all district headquarters in Rajasthan on July 31, addressing public issues. Memorandums were submitted to the chief minister through the district collectors.In districts like Sikar, Jaipur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Jhunjhunu, hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against the anti-people policies of the BJP-RSS government in the state.

THE 71st anniversary of the Moncada Day was observed in Delhi by the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of the visit of Che Guevara to India. Che was the first leader of socialist Cuba to visit India in order to establish diplomatic relations. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) also joined these commemorative events.The significance of this commemoration this year is manifold as Cuba is facing unforeseen difficulties due to its inclusion in the US list of ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’.

COMRADE Kantimohan Sharma, one of the founding members of the editorial team of Loklahar and the Democratic Writers Association, passed away on July 14 at a hospital in Noida. Coincidentally, it was also his birthday. Since the night of July 13, he had been on a ventilator. Comrade Kantimohan had been ill for a long time, and with advancing age, heart disease and other illnesses had afflicted him. He was 88 years old.Kantimohan retired from the position of a reader at Satyawati College, Delhi University, in 1996.

IT is a glaring contradiction of our times that the Modi government, while loudly promoting the BJP’s 'One Tree for Mother' campaign with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram,' is simultaneously advancing plans to transfer the Hasdeo forest to Adani. In disregard of established regulations, an environmental hearing is scheduled for August 2nd to approve the transfer of the Kete Extension coal block to Adani, a project expected to lead to the destruction of over 800,000 trees.