THE Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 18. In the Lok Sabha, newly elected member took oath on the first day and the House was adjourned for the day after obituary reference and observance of one minute’s silence on account of death of a sitting member. In the Rajya Sabha, after new members took oath, there was an obituary reference to the victims of natural calamities. There was also a short-duration discussion on the situation arising out of recent incidents of violence and turmoil in Kashmir Valley resulting in huge loss of lives and property.

Below are the edited excerpts of CPI(M) general secretary and MP Sitaram Yechury’s speech in Rajya Sabha during a short-duration discussion on ‘recent incidents of atrocities on Dalits in various parts of the country’ on July 21. The discussion was held following reports that some dalit youths, who were skinning a dead cow, were beaten up by cow vigilantes in Gujarat’s Una town.THIS discussion is being held today. There was immediate provocation. Then, the kinds of words that have been used against Mayawati, we all disapprove that.

THE Students’ Federation of India, Delhi state committee, along with other organisations including Jana Sanskriti, JMS, DSMM, DYFI, JLS and JNM, organised a dharna against the continuing state repression of the Kashmiri civilians on July 25. Nearly 50 persons have been killed and thousands injured in the brutal repression of the protest demonstrations across the Kashmir valley, following the murder of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. The shameful use of pellet guns against children and women has led to a situation of extreme human rights violation.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on July 23
THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its serious concern at the disruption caused on the main arterial roadway to Tripura (formerly known as NH-44). This has led to a severe disruption in the supply of essential commodities to the people of Tripura. Reports indicate that the road access to Tripura would be disrupted for at least three months, if not longer.

THE death of Burhan Wani in an encounter with the security forces in Kashmir has impacted an important section of the inhabitants of the valley who have come out on the streets and are fighting against the army and paramilitary forces because the killing has been “perceived” as an unwanted action on the part of security forces of India.