THE burden on common man’s life is the outcome of the policy adopted by the central government and state governments. The attack on food and employability is becoming fierce day by day in Bengal; factories are getting closed; people are losing job and on the other hand skyrocketing price rise of the essential commodities is putting the people in a miserable condition.

THE Left parties – CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, SUCI (C) and CGPI – organised a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on June 27 against the decision of the Modi government to allow 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in a host of sectors including defence sector, retail food trade, civil aviation, cable networks, DTH and other telecom services. Apart from this, 74 percent FDI through the automatic route will be allowed to facilitate takeover of existing Indian pharmaceutical companies. FDI in the private security agencies has been increased from 49 to 74 percent.

DRAWING parallels to the BJP regime and the RSS with Hitler and his idea of nationalism, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury warned against the metamorphosis of a "secular democratic republic of India into a rabidly intolerant fascistic Hindu Rashtra".Delivering a lecture on 'Neo-liberalism, Communalism and Intellectual Resistance' at the 77th Foundation Day of the National Book Agency in Kolkata on June 29, Yechury cited the Jawaharlal Nehru University controversy as well as "Love Jihad" and "Ghar Wapasi" as a bid by the BJP and the RSS "to replace India's inclusiveness with the exclu

THE people of the United Kingdom have voted in a historic referendum in favour of the country quitting the European Union (EU). Most of the mainstream media have been telling us that the campaign for Britain to leave the EU was entirely that of a far right lunatic fringe. This is far from the truth. While there were undoubtedly reactionary far right forces in the campaign such as the UK Independence Party (UKIP) which fomented xenophobia and racism, it should be obvious that most of the 17 million people who voted in favour of ‘Leave’ were not racists.

FROM the barrage mounted by the corporate media globally, it would appear that the decision of the people of Britain to quit the European Union is an unmitigated disaster for Britain, for Europe and for the world. There are mournful requiems for the end of globalisation and a “liberal-capitalist” order. The crash in the world’s stock exchanges and financial markets indicate who is really hurt by “Brexit” – the masters of big finance and the banks. But there is an alternative view about the referendum held in Britain on whether it should remain in, or, leave the European Union.