ROHITH Vemula's mother, Radhika, was at a candlelight vigil at India Gate demanding justice for the 26-year-old at the same time that Smriti Irani was giving her response to the Lok Sabha debate on the young student's  death.Radhika Vemula was picked up and taken to a police station in the heart of the capital when Smriti Irani was telling parliament how condemnable it was that a "child was being used as a political tool".Watching Smriti Irani's performance, I recalled a grieving mother's words, the words of Radhika: "I want to meet Smriti Irani and ask her 'On what basis did you declare my

THE agitation which started for reservation for Jats went out of control and took such a violent shape that it caused a large scale destruction in the state. Major parts of the state witnessed a situation, continuously for four days, as if the administration and the government are nonexistent. All the areas became hostage to the trouble creators. The total loss of life and property cannot be assessed properly at this point of time.

JAWAHARLAL Nehru University (JNU) has experienced sounds of jackboots. People with democratic and secular values in the entire country joined hands in protest against the agenda of saffronisation. Kolkata and Bengal was no exception to that. Jadavpur University (JU), noted centre of excellence of the state, also became a venue of the protest. For that, the premier institution is also facing the wrath of the saffron brigade.The teachers’ association of JU, JUTA in their meeting held on February 16 condemned of the arrest and detention of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on February 24, 2016.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its grave concern and anguish over the growing signs of hatred and use of violence unilaterally to intimidate individuals, groups, identities who hold views contrary to those of the perpetrators.

We are shocked over the acid attack on the social activist turned AAP functionary Soni Sori in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. Sori had to be brought to Delhi for urgent medical attention and continue to be in hospital.

Below we reproduce the letter to Raman Singh, chief minister of Chhattisgarh written by Brinda Karat, former MP and vice-president of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, Jitendra Choudhury MP, treasurer and Bal Singh, central executive member of AARM on the harassment of lawyers in Bastar and the continued functioning of vigilante groups like 'Salwa Judum', in the state in violation of the Supreme Court Judgement.