THE CPI(M) West Bengal state committee has announced a programme to immediately launch a mass signature collection campaign against the pervasive corruption. CPI(M) workers will collect signatures and campaign door-to-door throughout the month of May. During a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday, May 3, CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim announced the initiative, stating that the campaign's goal is to fight for justice.

THE political campaign launched by CPI(M) and CPI in Andhra Pradesh from April 14 to May 4 was successful in exposing the disastrous policies of the BJP central government. The campaign aimed to highlight the corporate-communal nexus in power at the centre, which has been cheating the people and favouring the wealthy by using public funds. The message of the campaign resonated well with the people, and it succeeded in raising awareness about the corrupt practices of the BJP.

THE state of press freedom in India has been accurately captured by the World Press Freedom Index.  This year’s index was issued on May 3, which is observed as World Press Freedom Day.  The Reporters without Borders (RSF), which has prepared the World Press Freedom Index has placed India in the 161st rank out of 180 countries. The disturbing fact is, this is eleven ranks below India’s position of 150 in 2022.

IS there caste discrimination within the working class as well? Does gender discrimination still exist in modern society, despite women proving their talent in all fields? When the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) decided to conduct a survey on discrimination and harassment, some naturally raised these questions. It is not only prevalent in rural areas but also in urban settings. Does it occur only in the unorganised sector or is it also present in modern industries? After conducting the survey, all doubts were dispelled.

MAY 3rd is World Press Freedom Day, a reminder that the role of news organisations is to speak truth to power. Not to manufacture consent – to use Chomsky’s famous words – for the government and the ruling classes. While doing that, I want to remember two men who exemplify the need to speak the truth: Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame and Julian Assange of WikiLeaks. And also of Chelsea Manning, without whom we would not have the proof of what the US was doing, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan but all across the globe.