GUWAHATI, the capital city of poll-bound Assam, witnessed a massive and inspiring rally on February 21 on the call of CPI(M) Assam State Committee. The sprawling and picturesque bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River, where the rally was held, turned red and was crowded by about fifteen thousand people who came from different corners of the state. It was an inspiring spectacle of the fighting unity of the toiling and democratic people irrespective of language, religion and caste in a state which is otherwise plagued by activities of divisive and communal forces.

EVERY time a session of Parliament is about to begin, the ruling dispensation and the gangs protected by it come up with fabricated incidents and diversionary tactics to muzzle the debate on people’s genuine issues. The method behind this madness is coming to the fore day by day, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said speaking at a rally held in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on February 20, commemorating the first anniversary of Govind Pansare’s martyrdom.

ROHITH Vemula's mother, Radhika, was at a candlelight vigil at India Gate demanding justice for the 26-year-old at the same time that Smriti Irani was giving her response to the Lok Sabha debate on the young student's  death.Radhika Vemula was picked up and taken to a police station in the heart of the capital when Smriti Irani was telling parliament how condemnable it was that a "child was being used as a political tool".Watching Smriti Irani's performance, I recalled a grieving mother's words, the words of Radhika: "I want to meet Smriti Irani and ask her 'On what basis did you declare my

THE agitation which started for reservation for Jats went out of control and took such a violent shape that it caused a large scale destruction in the state. Major parts of the state witnessed a situation, continuously for four days, as if the administration and the government are nonexistent. All the areas became hostage to the trouble creators. The total loss of life and property cannot be assessed properly at this point of time.

JAWAHARLAL Nehru University (JNU) has experienced sounds of jackboots. People with democratic and secular values in the entire country joined hands in protest against the agenda of saffronisation. Kolkata and Bengal was no exception to that. Jadavpur University (JU), noted centre of excellence of the state, also became a venue of the protest. For that, the premier institution is also facing the wrath of the saffron brigade.The teachers’ association of JU, JUTA in their meeting held on February 16 condemned of the arrest and detention of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar.