THE fifth state conference of CPI(M) Jharkhand was organised successfully in Bokaro Steel City. The city houses one of the largest public sector steel plants in the country. There has been a sharp decline in the number of regular workers, who have been replaced by part time contractual workers in the plant over the years. The latter are subject to severe exploitation as a result of the neo-liberal economic policies.

THE 21st state  conference of the  CPI(M) was held on January 24-25 at  Modasa (of  newly  created Arvalli district). It began with the hoisting of Party flag by Gujarat’s senior most leader, Subodh Mehta. The conference began with a rally in the morning of January 24. The rally  started  from  market   yard and terminated  in  huge  public  meeting  at  Modasa  Char Rasta. The public meeting was presided over by Subodh Mehta. The reception committee chairman Katabhai Raval greeted the people on the dais with flowers. Pragajibhai Bhambhi delivered the welcome speech.

HUNDREDS of people belonging to various mass organisations led by the All India Democratic Women’s Organisation rose in protest against the brutal rape and murder of the 28 year old mentally challenged woman from Nepal who had come to Rohtak for treatment at her sister’s place in Chinaut Colony. She was abducted by a group of notorious elements from near her residence on February 1 and the case was immediately reported to local police who did not come into action till her badly bruised and mutilated body was found lying in the fields three days later on February 4.

IN  the run up to the 21st Party Congress of the CPI(M) which is scheduled to be held from April 14-19 at Visakhapatnam, the Kerala state conference of the Party will be held from February 20-23 at Aleppy, the land of historic Punnapra-Vayalar struggle. Prior to the state conference, all 14 district conferences were held successfully. The reports were adopted unanimously.

CPI(M) state secretariat member, vice president of State Planning Board, a crusader in the struggle for emancipation of dalit community and a great poet Comrade Anil Sarkar breathed his last at AIIMS, New Delhi at 7.40 in the evening on February 9. He was 76. He had been suffering from multiple ailments and was under medical care for last several months. He is survived by only son Abhijit, daughter-in-law and a grandson. He was founder president of the Scheduled Caste Coordination Committee and Cultural Coordination Committee of the state and continued in that position till his death.