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.

KERALA: On Local Body Elections

THE Pattom ward in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has a story to tell. Here a friendly contest has been taking place between the Congress candidate and Kerala Congress (Mani) nominee. KPCC president VM Sudheeran resides and has a vote in this ward itself. This shows the bad predicament that the Congress led UDF has been facing in the state in the local body election scheduled to be held on November 2 and 5. During the seat sharing discussion, the district Congress committee had set aside the ward for KC(M).

Protest against Delhi Police Raid on Kerala Bhawan

THE efforts of the Hindu fundamentalist forces to do cultural policing in the name of cow-protection faced a major setback on in Delhi after Kerala House's staff-run restaurant, Smrudhi, re-introduced beef on their menu.
The Delhi Police, which acted on the basis of 'information received over phone that cow meat is served in the restaurant' and sent a team to raid the place was caught on the wrong foot for dancing to the tune of fundamentalist forces.

KARNATAKA: Protests Attack on Dalit

PROTESTS were held across Karnataka against the attack on a young dalit writer and journalism student Uchangi Prasad at Davangere in central Karnataka on October 22. Protests were held at Bangalore, Mangalore, Davangere, Tumakuru, Gajendragada and other places since the incident. Prominent writers, speakers were present at the protest meetings. Speaking at the Bangalore protest meeting, Prof K M Marulasiddappa said that “Drona's trying to cut fingers of 'Ekalavya’ in modern times” too.

Increasing Communal Violence in Jharkhand

JHARKHAND has recorded highest number of communal conflicts during last year. After Jamshedpur violence in July 2015, again Jharkhand simmered with tension on October 24, 2015. Communal violence occurred in Hazaribagh, Palamu and Latehar districts.Violence and vandalism are also reported from Chhatarpur (Palamu district) and Latehar which started on October 23 and spilled over the next day. People from both the communities were injured.The latest communal clashes sparked off during Dusshera and Muharrum festivals which coincided this year.

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