THE role of US and NATO in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia is discussed in these columns earlier. This is about how the larger impact of US intervention in Europe is expressing itself.One of the first things that the US did to Eastern Europe after the collapse of the socialist bloc countries and the Soviet Union in the 1990s, was to push them into capitalist exploitation. They were soon converted into markets for imperialist countries, while their State sector industrial enterprises were consciously dismantled.

PROFESSOR Aijaz Ahmad, outstanding Marxist theorist and public intellectual died on March 9, 2022 in the United States.  Aijaz Ahmad was one of the significant Marxist intellectuals who made a big contribution to defend and nurture Marxist theory, particularly in the post-Soviet era.His penetrating critique of Post-Marxist theories like post-modernism, his incisive writings on imperialism, Hindutva fascism and the rise of rightwing forces globally are a corpus which has enriched Marxist theory and practice.Aijaz Ahmad taught at various universities in the United States and India.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on March 10THE BJP has won a second successive victory in the UP elections. With intensified communal polarisation, control over large sections of the media and immense money power, BJP retained government with a reduced majority. Despite the immense economic hardships faced by the people, relief measures like provision of free foodgrains, have had an impact.The BJP has also won the Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur elections. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party has won a sweeping victory.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on February 25THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its grave concern at the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is unfortunate that Russia took military action against Ukraine. There should be an immediate cessation of armed hostilities and peace should be established.After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States led NATO has been steadily expanding eastward, contrary to the assurance given to Russia.

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has decided to observe March 8, 2022, as “Working Women’s Action Day”.The condition of people and particularly women have worsened since the Modi government took over. This government is advancing with disastrous policies detrimental to the basic democratic and secular fabric of our country. The resistance movement is also advancing as we could witness in the historic farmers’ movement, developing the unity of the working class and peasantry.