ON the 40th anniversary of emergency, the veteran BJP leader LK Advani remarked that though the political leadership of the country is mature, he was not confident that the country would not face an emergency like situation again. He further added that the forces who could crush democracy had become stronger. This comment has sparked off a debate on the nature of the current NDA-2 regime. In fact the events of the last few months have made it amply clear that this regime is unwilling to tolerate any criticism and is indeed hounding those who dare to oppose it.

EIGHT organisations of kisans, agricultural workers and rural artisans, at a joint meeting on 21ST July, decided to organise a “Campaign Fortnight” from 16TH to 31ST August throughout the country on the issues being faced by them. Joint meetings of cadres, mass meetings, seminars, torchlight processions and other programmes will be organised at block, taluk and district levels to draw the attention of public in general against the anti-people policies of the governments.

THE first Rajasthan State Convention of Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) was held on July 25 in Jaipur. The convention highlighted the prevailing conditions of the state’s Dalit population and took resolve to take up fight to meet the challenges. Delegates from various districts expressed deep concern over the increasing exploitation and oppression of Dalits in the ongoing phase of neo-liberalism. There is not a single district in Rajasthan where Dalits are not discriminated against, oppressed and exploited.

CPI(M) and the Left Front will unleash a wave of struggles on the burning issues of people in the state. The preparation and campaign for mobilising people has already started. This will be coordinated with the Party Central Committee’s call for the August campaign.All the Left peasant and agricultural workers’ organisations have decided to march towards Nabanna, the state secretariat on August 10. In a first of its kind, peasants from all over the state will gather at five points surrounding Nabanna, which has been fortified with cordons of security.