IN Lok Sabha, the flood and drought situation was discussed under the Calling Attention. Speaking on this, M B Rajesh pointed out that our country is having diverse climatic condition just as we have diverse culture. As predicted, this year’s monsoon has been weak and there has been a decline in the accumulative rainfall for the country as a whole as compared to the last year. The decline is 43 percent. It is an alarming situation. Out of 617 districts, 434 districts have received deficient rainfall.

THE entire life of Comrade HareKrishna Konar was dedicated to the anti-imperialist battle and to bring changes in the existing tyranny-driven society. Throughout his entire life, he worked for the application of Marxist-Leninist ideology. He also became a pioneering figure in movements of peasants and agricultural workers to dismantle the stranglehold of feudalism on them.Comrade HareKrishna Konar was born on August 5, 1915 at Memari of Bardhaman district. He breathed his last on July 23, 1974 at the age of 59.

ON August 6, 2014, a large rally of nearly 3,000 people, predominantly youth, marked the beginning of the CPI(M) Vidhan Sabha election campaign in Solapur with tremendous enthusiasm. The participants came from all over Solapur city and also from the adjoining rural areas. Most of them were working class youth and they hailed from all religions and castes.

THE threat from Hindutva fundamentalist forces looms larger each day, and is covering ever-wider ground. Obscurantist views on society are being expressed such as support to khap panchayats. The status and role of women are systematically sought to be undermined including by playing down incidents of rape and blaming women’s dress or “western culture” for the same.

HEADS of 83 countries, monarchs and elected presidents/prime ministers included, converged in Belgium to commemorate the centenary of the World War (the war to end all wars!), while Israel is bombarding Gaza. New York Times reporting the event writes “Some took the moment to recall more modern crises in the Middle East and Europe that are rooted in the fighting between 1914 and 1918 that toppled empires and redrew the world map. Some dwelled on a vision of reconciliation among former foes”.