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.

THE governor of Himachal Pradesh Dev Vrat was reportedly present on the dais when Ramdev made his widely reported atrocious statements which were nothing but an incitement to violence. Ramdev should be arrested under the clauses for incitement to violence and for hate speech, but more of that later. The country has not heard a single word of the governor’s reaction. Does he agree with such a blatantly communal speech? If not why did he not protest? Why did his office not at least issue a statement distancing himself from such a speech?

THE Panama papers have given a glimpse of the extensive network of shell companies and secret entities in tax havens around the globe which service the needs of the wealthy and powerful of the world. The Indian Express has published details of Indians who have utilised the services of a law firm, Mossack Fonseca, headquartered in Panama for acquiring shell companies off the shelf. These shell companies are registered in various tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is coming under increasing political pressure, both from within his party and from the opposition on an array of issues. His handling of the economy has been particularly under the scanner. Plummeting commodity prices have hit the South African economy very hard. The South African economy is heavily dependent on mineral exports. The mining sector, dominated by big conglomerates, accounts for 35 percent of the country's exports. It is the second largest economic sector after the agricultural sector.