EVER since the installation of the BJP government, India has gone out of its way to ingratiate itself with the United States. This trend has been particularly prominent in the case of intellectual property rights (patent rights in the case of medicines), an area where India and the US have traditionally held almost diametrically opposite views.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on April 2.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deep grief at the loss of life and grievous injuries caused by the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Kolkata. The Polit Bureau conveys its deep condolences to the families of those who have lost their life in this tragedy.

THE latest suicide bomber attacks in Brussels by so-called Islamist Fundamentalist groups or fanatic followers of Iraq-Syria Islamic State (ISIS) ideology of establishing a pure, nonetheless an achronistic tottering idea of a pure Islamic Caliphate has raised many questions about the role of fanatic Islamist religious groups who have taken upon themselves the task or responsibility of spreading ‘violence’ in imperialist western countries to take revenge for oppression and repression of the Arab Muslims by western imperialists.

IN connection with the assault on three Muslim students in Ramesh Enclave in Delhi, who faced violence and threats and were made to chant Mata ki Jai/Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans, a delegation of the Delhi state committee of CPI(M) met the three injured students on March 30. Dilkush, Naeem and Ajmal, all students in a local Madrassa in Ramesh Enclave, Delhi were assaulted by a gang of five men who coerced them to shout slogans like Mata ki Jai/Bharat Mata ki Jai. All three of them were badly beaten, one of them, Dilkush suffered serious fractures.

THE sweltering heat and repeated attempts of disruption by TMC goons couldn’t resist the brave people of West Bengal from taking part in the Assembly polls in their fight to restore democracy in the state. Nearly 81 per cent of the 40 lakh electorate turned out to exercise their democratic right in the first phase of the Assembly polls on April 4.  In the first phase, polling took place in 18 constituencies - nine in Purulia, three in Bankura and six in West Medinipur district.