Scientists Raise Voice Against Assault on Reason & Scientific Temper

The Indian Constitution in Article 51 A (h) demands, as a part of the fundamental duties of the citizens, that we '...develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform'. Unfortunately, what we are witnessing instead is the active promotion of irrational and sectarian thought by important functionaries of the government.The Indian civilization is a truly plural one. We have always had many practices and communities that have allowed space for each other; we celebrate the festivals and anniversaries of all faiths.

On The Silk Road Initiative

Below we publish the speech made by CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) held in Beijing from October 13-16, putting forward the views about the 'One Road One Belt' initiative.THE shared socio-historical, cultural past of our countries is best represented in the Silk Road, which showcases the confluences of our civilisations. Cities like Edessa, today's Sanhurfa, Istanbul and Alexandria, all important trading centres of that period, best convey the length and depth of these currents of confluence.

Refugee Crisis: Incoherent European Response

WITH the exodus of refugees to European shores showing no signs of receding, the European Union (EU) is facing a crisis that could threaten its very survival. Schengen visa rules that allow passport free travel in EU countries have been suspended. Border controls have been re-established and fences have reappeared on the continent for the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Europe so far has responded woefully to the refugee crisis, the biggest since Second World War. European authorities were no doubt caught by surprise by the sheer scale of the migration.

PUNJAB: Left Parties Hold Dharnas on Peasants & Agricultural Labourers’ Issues

THE Co-ordination Committee of four Left parties CPI, CPI(M), CPM Punjab & CPI(ML-Liberation) organised massive dharnas and rallies in support of the demands of the peasants and agricultural workers at district headquarters all over Punjab on October 12, 2015. The peasantry in Punjab has been struggling for the last few days demanding immediate compensation to the peasants whose cotton crops have been damaged by white fly, procuring of Basmati 1509 by government agencies at minimum support price and payment of arrears of sugar cane growers.

Artists Express Concern Over Alarming Rise of Intolerance

The following is the statement issued by Artists Alert: 2015, on October 27, 2015
THE artist community of India stands in firm solidarity with the actions of our writers who have relinquished awards and positions, and spoken up in protest against the alarming rise of intolerance in the country. We condemn and mourn the murders of MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, rationalists and free thinkers whose voices have been silenced by rightwing dogmatists but whose ‘presence’ must ignite our resistance to the conditions of hate being generated around us.

Punish ‘Moral Policing’

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now in session at Delhi, has issued the following statement on October 28.THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the Hindutva elements who sought to stir up trouble with the allegation of “beef” being served in the canteen at Kerala House in New Delhi. Firm action should be taken against them. The CPI(M) condemns the raid conducted by Delhi Police at the Kerala House on the pretext of investigating whether beef was being served in the canteen. Everybody is aware that buffalo meat is allowed legally to be sold i

Remove VK Singh from Union Cabinet

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on October 24, 2015

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the remarks by Gen. (retd) VK Singh, minister of state for external affairs comparing the burning alive of two dalit children in Faridabad to stoning of a dog.

Swachh Bharat or Maleen Bharat?

THERE is stench all around us. Dirt piling up, people urinating on the roads and defecating in the open – all these continue to offend our sensibilities. So, suddenly when there came a prime minister who stood upon the ramparts of the Red Fort to address all of us, on the issue confronting all of us, we are all more than happy. Here comes the doer! Come tomorrow, we need not be closing our nostrils when we move around! More than all this, we need not be ashamed of our roads, cities or our country. Particularly, before foreigners. Doer, he is, deliver he will.

National Students’ Parliament Held in Kerala

THE first national students’ parliament on the theme ‘Higher Education: Emerging Issues and Challenges’, was held from October 9-11, 2015 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It attempted to address the critical domain of higher education bearing on the present and future of our democratic republic and chart out a blue print for future action and deliberations. It has given a new vigour and was an enriching experience to the leaders of student community for combating centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation policies of the governments.

MAHARASHTRA: Huge Rally Held in Palghar on Martyrs’ Day

MORE than 20,000 people from the tehsils of Dahanu, Talasari, Vikramgad, Palghar, Jawhar, Mokhada and Wada from Palghar district and Shahapur tehsil from Thane district marched under the banner of the CPI(M) and the AARM to the district collector’s office at Palghar on October 16, 2015 to castigate the BJP-led governments at the centre and in the state and with a 21-point charter of burning demands of various sections of the working people. Adivasis were an overwhelming section in the march, and nearly half of them were women.

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