EXPRESSING deep shock and grief over the loss of two precious lives in Chadoora Budgam, CPI(M) Jammu and Kashmir state committee has said that such incidents could have been avoided if the security forces would have exercised maximum restraint.In a statement issued on March 30, it said that the law enforcing agencies are refusing to draw lessons from previous such experiences and warned that such killings are bound to inflame the situation.

COMRADE BT Ranadive used to reminisce that in pre-independence Bombay (as it was then called) there would occasionally be impressive workers’ strikes at the call of Communist-led trade unions which were powerful in the city at that time, at which Hindu and Muslim workers would stand shoulder to shoulder.

DRAGGING his party into controversy, N Sreeprakash, BJP candidate for Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election, has promised that he will bring ‘halal’ beef to the voters, if they give mandate in his favour. The embarrassment of BJP’s national and state leadership was visible as they kept mum on the issue. Sreeprakash while addressing a press meet, promised to supply quality beef from clean slaughter houses. He clarified that the BJP was not against beef consumption, but only against illegal slaughter houses.“There are slaughter houses providing unhygienic meat of dead cows.

THE All India Lawyers Union, Delhi unit condemned the heinous attack on its president, a well known senior lawyer and former mayor of Kolkata, Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya by the Trinamool Congress cadre in West Bengal on April 1.The targeted attack, AILU leaders said, was because of his stellar role in exposing the Saradha Scam and Narada Scam. Ironically he was attacked while he was on his way to the village where the victims of the unjust land acquisition were protesting and he was to render legal aid and legal advice to them.

THE outcome of the Indo-US nuclear deal is now in total disarray.  The nuclear deal was used to cement the strategic alliance between the United States and India.  At the heart of the deal was the promise of full civilian nuclear cooperation extended to India and the quid pro quo was the military alliance coveted by the US which included the purchase of US arms.