THE 18th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which was held in Rome, Italy, from May 6-8, 2022, asserted that the future belongs to the world of work and of struggles. It called upon the working class of the world to unite and march forward in the time tested line of class struggle and proletarian internationalism. Recalling the lines of the revolutionary poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, the Congress affirmed that ‘the future will not come by itself’.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on May 19, 2022THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses serious concern over the fact that the District Court, Varanasi took an ill-considered decision to allow videography under its supervision within the premises of the Gyanvapi Mosque that has resulted in a situation which can be utilised by communal forces.The Supreme Court has now intervened in the matter and the CPI(M) demands that utmost caution be exercised and that no violation, in letter and spirit, of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions

THE All Manipur Democratic Women’s Association (AMDWA), affiliated to the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), held its seventh state conference on May 14, 2022 at the Manipur Dramatic Union Hall, Imphal. The venue was named after our leaders, L Tarunibala and R K Danita.

The conference began with the flag hoisting by M Randhoni Devi, the first president of AMDWA, followed by floral tributes to the martyrs.

THE first-ever all India dairy farmers’ workshop jointly organised by All India Kisan Sabha and P Sundarayya Memorial Trust was held at Kozhikode, Kerala, on May 14-15, 2022. It was attended by 71 delegates from 17 states. Ashok Dhawale, president of AIKS, inaugurated the workshop, while AIKS joint secretary, Vijoo Krishnan chaired the inaugural session.

THE Indian government’s refusal to consider the World Health Organisation estimates of excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic years and insisting that only India’s Civil Registration System  should be used for Covid-19 deaths, makes strange reading. WHO’s estimates of excess deaths have been used across the board for all countries. Even in countries with stronger birth and death registration systems than India such as the UK, US, WHO’s report shows that excess deaths have been much larger than the registered Covid-19 deaths.