THE spectacle of the whole world petrified by the Covid pandemic and of little Cuba confidently engaging with it has drawn the attention and admiration of humanity. Now Cuba is again in the news for the so-called ‘end’ of the ‘Çastro era,’ as the outcome of the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. The change of guard in the Cuban Party from the revolutionary heroes of the Cuban struggle from 1953 to 59 to the new generation of communists is indeed historic.
INDIA is reeling under a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with thousands of people being thrown from pillar to post for hospital beds and supply of medical oxygen and life-saving medicines. The country’s daily infection tally and death toll have surpassed previous highs and are touching new peaks. SOS calls from patients, relatives and even hospitals for the supply of oxygen and essential medicines have fallen on deaf ears.
THE CPI(M) expresses its sorrow at the passing away of Comrade SP Kashyap due to Covid complications. He was a member of the state secretariat of the CPI(M), Uttar Pradesh and had earlier been the state secretary of the Party for several years. He was also a former member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M). Comrade Kashyap became a whole-timer of the party after his retirement from teaching.Comrade Kashyap was greatly respected as a Marxist intellectual and he was much sought after by all those who organised Hindi Party classes in different states and at the center.
THE CPI(M) condoles the death of Comrade Abdul Hameed Wani, veteran leader of the Party and one of the founders of the kisan movement in the Jammu & Kashmir state. He breathed his last on April 23, in SKIMS(Sher- i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences), Srinagar.The Party has expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a press note issued on April 24, 2021, denounced the vaccine policy of the government of India, putting profit over the precious lives of people in the wake of the severe health emergency following the second wave of Covid -19 pandemic.
THE Covid-19 tragedy that is unfolding in India is of truly epic proportions. There is the scandal of people dying because of lack of oxygen in hospitals; there is the scandal of lack of hospital beds and medicines; there is the scandal of deaths due to Covid being covered up and there is the scandal of the vaccine shortage and profiteering sanctioned by the government.
THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expressed its grave concern at the alarming spread and intensity of the second wave of Covid 19. It said that the country is facing the worst health crisis and is appalled at the total unpreparedness and utter insensitivity of the government to meet this second countrywide surge.The CITU slammed the government for failing to assure migrant workers of protecting their jobs, incomes and residences and instead the finance minister has assured the industry that there would not be full lockdown.
THE spurge in Covid pandemic has added new features in electioneering in West Bengal. Sanjukta Morcha led the way by declaring that it would not organise big rallies anymore, except for the few which was decided much earlier. Morcha campaign, on the contrary, has turned more intensive, door to door following Covid rules. Both BJP and TMC have initially mocked the decision, and leaders of both parties continued with their mass meetings. The prime minister has even boasted of a ‘huge’ gathering in his rally while the entire country was suffering from galloping cases.
AN organisation by the nameFolklore Research Academy(FRA)is active in Amritsar for the last more than 25 years. This organisation is dedicated to the cause of Indo –Pak friendship, cultural exchange between the two parts of Punjab ( East and West ) on both sides of the border, maintenance of peace and brotherhood and other noble causes. Prominent writers, journalists, intellectuals, artists and other professionals of Pakistan and India have been closely related with this organisation.
THE official wholesale price index for March 2021, which was released a few days ago shows it to be 7.39 per cent higher than for March 2020. Such a high rate of inflation has not been seen in India for over 8 years.