THE Central Committee of the CPI(M), in its last meeting, reviewed the Party’s performance in the Assembly elections in five states. It concluded that the electoral tactics in West Bengal of having an understanding with the Congress party was a departure from the political-tactical line of the Party and that approach should be rectified. This decision of the Party has evoked some discussion in political circles. Some Left and liberal intellectuals have voiced their disagreement with the Party’s stand that there should be no alliance or understanding with the Congress party.

THOUSANDS of people marched through the streets of Kolkata on July 11, protesting against price rise, at the call of 17 Left and democratic parties. The rally took up a 16-point charter of demands which included immediate steps to control unprecedented price rise, scrapping of price hike of petro products, withdrawal of allowing FDI in retail and food trade etc. It also raised state-specific demands of proper distribution of food items in PDS and lowering extraordinary hike in power tariff.The rally started from Y-Channel in Dharmatala and ended at College Square.

Is ultra-leftism an ideology?  If it is not then why does our Party use this terminology and give it recognition?Shambuprasad Mamgayi, DehradunTHERE is no denying that ultra-leftism is a political trend which has to be understood and fought in the ideological and public sphere.  Even Lenin had to counter this trend within the Bolshevik Party and he wrote his famous pamphlet “Left Wing Communism – an Infantile Disorder”.

IN response to the massive unrest emerging after death of Burhan Wani and his associates, the use of brutal force against the unarmed protesters by the government has resulted in unfortunate killing of number of unarmed innocent persons, which is highly condemnable. The present unrest is the expression of intense anger of the people against the oppressive policies of the government. The killing of unarmed civilians by security forces shows that the government is reluctant to learn any lesson from the past.

COLLEGE of Arts and Crafts in Patna is facing an existential crisis due to the apathy and anti-cultural attitude of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar. The college, affiliated to Patna University, has brought laurels to the state as well as the country and finds a place of pride in the art world.