Maoists have apologized for killing MGNREGA activist Niyamat Ansari. In a release issued by Koyal Shankh zonal committee of the CPI-Maoist, its spokesperson Dinbandhu said the rebels owned up the responsibility for the killing in April, describing it as unfortunate. "He was killed not because of his role as an MGNREGA activist, instead he along with his associate Bhukhan Singh was found guilty of capturing forest land in Jerua village for agricultural...

-The Hindu   The Communist Party of India has protested against the decision of the Centre to support the Chhattisgarh government's move on the Salwa Judum, and urged it to withdraw support to the State government ordinance. The ordinance, which reappoints the Special Police Officers (SPO) “to do precisely the same activities and with the same qualifications as earlier, shows complete disrespect for the spirit of the Supreme Court judgment [declaring the Salwa...

Anna Hazare's so-called "second freedom struggle" raises questions, one, about how long the protests can be sustained, and, two, on the merits of the protesters' demands and methods. But before that, Team Anna should be given credit for reviving long-somnolent mass politics in this country, something beyond the Opposition that has been reduced to activism on the idiot box. It shows how much anti-government political space had been abandoned by the...

After the brutal murder of Azad, is there any hope for well-meaning routine calls for “dialogue” and “peace talks”? What can the "civil society" do as a serious, real intervention? It is reported that the decades-old talks with Naga insurgent groups has made some progress recently (See “Differences ‘narrowed’,” Times of India, July 19, 2011). One reason why talks have a chance in these cases is that separatism comes in...

27 party supporters killed since election results announced The Left Front would raise the issue of terror being unleashed upon its cadres and party workers in protests outside the State Assembly and Parliament and may also raise it during the all-party meeting called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, State Left Front Committee chairman Biman Bose said here on Thursday. Claiming that 27 supporters and party workers had been killed since...