CPI(M)  Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on September 21

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the murder of a progressive journalist Santanu Bhowmick by BJP-backed IPTF miscreants in Tripura.

On the heels of the murder of Gauri Lankesh has come yet another killing of a progressive journalist. There is a clear pattern in this – employed by the RSS-BJP particularly in the states were elections are due – of silencing progressive journalists and the dissemination of truth to the people.

A SOMBRE gathering of journalists, press workers and lawyers, under joint banners met at the Delhi Union of Journalists Amphitheatre, to remember journalist Gauri Lankesh together and condemned hate forces responsible for her death. They were backed by colourful posters of the Delhi Union of Journalists, SAHMAT and some pieces of poetry by members. The meeting on September 11, was organised jointly by the DUJ, the All India Newspaper Employees Federation, the National Alliance of Journalists, Press Unity Centre, KUWJ Delhi and All India Lawyers Union.

RITABRATA Banerjee, member of the West Bengal state committee of the Party, who was earlier facing disciplinary action, has been summarily expelled for grave anti-Party activities.  This decision was taken unanimously by the West Bengal state secretariat, at its meeting held on September 13, 2017, under Article 19 (13) of the Constitution.

ON September 1, S Anitha, who was a petitioner against the centralised NEET examination, committed suicide. Condoling her death, the Students’ Federation of India in a statement issued on September 2, said that the 17-year old dalit girl Anitha, who has done exceptionally well in academics had scored 1176 marks out of 1200 in the plus two exams under the Tamil Nadu state board, but could score only 76 out of 700 in NEET. She prepared for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) ignoring all hindrances.