In a statement issued on December 21, 2016, the Republican Party of India, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union, All India Agricultural Workers Union, National Coordination Committee on Dalit Rights, Rashtriya Dalit Manav Adhikar Andolan and the All India Dalit Rights Federation have jointly appealed for observing Rohith Vemula’s first anniversary on January 17, 2017. One year ago, on January 17, Rohith Vemula who faced caste discrimination and harassment in the University of Hyderabad, killed himself.

BHEEM from Purulia was rendering a self-composed song in his native dialect. He was narrating the experiences of disabled people like him for whom every day brought in new challenges and struggles. The disabled folk singer was one of the few who could make it to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on December 3 from West Bengal. The rest of the Bengal contingent, nearing a thousand, thanks to inclement weather and consequent disruption of rail services were either stranded midway or had to abandon their journey even before they could commence it.

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) held a two-day workshop on caste oppression for the Hindi speaking states. 68 comrades from 10 states attended the workshop. The workshop underscored that for developing the Party and the Left and democratic movement in the Hindi-speaking states, it is essential to take up social issues. Among the various social problems, the major issue is of the deep-rooted caste system and the caste oppression engendered by it. Class exploitation and caste oppression are inextricably intertwined.

The Executive Committee of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) has issued the following statement on The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) in a statement issued on September 18 has congratulated the entire 19-member contingent which represented India in the paralympic games in Rio. The spectacular performance by this contingent has brought laurels to the country. Two golds, a silver and a bronze medal have been won by this small contingent that the country sent.

A DELEGATION from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) consisting of Central Secretariat member Nilotpal Basu, Central Committee member and leader of CPI(M) group in Lok Sabha P Karunakaran and CPI(M) member of Lok Sabha Badrudzza Khan visited Dingerheri village, Mewat in Haryana on September 21.  They were accompanied by former CPI(M) Haryana state secretary Inderjit Singh and Party state committee member Satbir Singh.They had gone there to meet the families of the victims of the double murder and gang-rape of two girls from a poor landless family from the minority Muslim community in th