A DELEGATION of CPI(M) comprising of Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Ghulam Nabi Malik, Mohd. Afzal Parry and Mohd Amin Dar met union home minister, Rajnath Singh on July 24. The delegation appraised him about the deepening of massive unrest in Kashmir and its fall out. The outburst of mass protests throughout Kashmir demonstrates the growing and deepening alienation of the people, particularly the youth. The response of the authorities has resulted in unfortunate deaths of dozens of unarmed civilians and thousands who got injured.

THE Antrix Devas Agreement was entered into without thought and terminated equally badly. The country might pay a huge price – not only for the mistake of signing a bad contract, but also for not knowing how to get out of such a contract. The two tribunal awards show the danger of the 80 odd bilateral investment treaties that India has entered into under which we are already seeing a spate of disputes.A tribunal in Hague has now imposed a penalty on India, which press reports claim could rise up to a billion, on the Antrix Devas deal's cancellation, deeming it an expropriation.

THE bill passed by parliament to prohibit all forms of child labour upto the age of 14 actually does the opposite.  It has legitimised child labour on a large-scale.The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill adopted by parliament, despite various objections raised by MPs, is a regressive law.  While it bans the use of children upto the age of 14 for all forms of labour, it has permitted children to be employed in family-based enterprises and to take part in “home-based work” such as in fields and forests.  Family is defined not just as the nuclear family but also the fathe

CPI(M) central committee member and Jammu and Kashmir MLA Md. Yusuf Tarigami was in Delhi in the beginning of the week to meet leaders of national parties and seek their intervention in bringing Kashmir back from the brink. Among others, he met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, on July 20. The turmoil in Kashmir, which erupted following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, has claimed over 40 lives and left more than 3400 injured.

 Following is edited excerpt of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s speech at the 11th meeting of Inter-State Council, held in New Delhi on July 16:I am happy that the government of India has convened this meeting of the Inter-State Council, though after a long gap. It is a pity that this national forum has not been active over the years. Let me take this opportunity to strongly recommend that at least two meetings be held every year to discuss well-defined agenda, suggested by state governments and the ministries of the government of India.