ON Friday, June 3, in Kanpur, immediately after the Namaaz, clashes broke out in one particular locality, Yatimkhana-Parade Crossing.  There was brick-batting, a few people were injured and hospitalised and the immediate intervention by the police ensured that the clash ended within half an hour.  Compared to clashes in earlier years which led to rioting and spread to other parts of the city and which saw police firing claiming several lives, what happened on the 3rd was not a very serious affair but it has dominated headlines and TV channels for several days.

Around 6,000 workers including 2,500 women workers of Madurai Corporation are on an indefinite strike from May 30 demanding regularisation of 389 contract workers as per court order, withdrawal of contract system in the corporation, disbursal of pension benefits to workers retired since 2017, supply of equipment and safety gears and stopping of vindictive actions of transfers. The protest is led by CITU and other workers unions. CPI(M) has extended support to the protest and to the demands raised. 

IT is eight years since Narendra Modi became prime minister of India, heading an NDA government. The BJP is observing this anniversary in a big way, combining it with their election campaign for some state assembly elections due later this year, Gujarat being one of the important ones. The ruling party organised a meeting of all its national and state office bearers recently in Jaipur where a long statement narrating various achievements of the Modi government was issued. Also declared in this meeting was a triple slogan for marking the anniversary from May 30 to June 15.

The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), in association with other dalit organisations in the state, has organised a series of programmes across the state to garner public support for a special Act to prevent honour killings which are rising in recent years in the state. As part of it, they organised a state-wide demonstration programme on May 28.CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali, speaking at a demonstration held at Saidapet, Chennai, stressed the need for a special Act to prevent social evils like honour killings.

Following the call of the Left parties to launch united and concerted nationwide struggles against price rise and unemployment, between May 25-31, various forms of protests were held across the country. Below we publish some of the reports received as we go to press.Tamil Nadu: THE CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state committee held protests across the state from May 25 to 31 against the Modi-led Union government, as per the call given by the Left parties.