Counterview

By Vikas Meshram  The recurring wave of political defections among India's elected representatives has once again raised important questions about the health of the country's parliamentary democracy. The latest instance involves six Lok Sabha MPs of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) joining the faction led by Eknath Shinde. Since these MPs constitute two-thirds of the party's strength in the Lok Sabha, they are expected to invoke the merger exception provided under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.

By A Representative   A coalition of health professionals, workers and public health organisations under the banner United Organisations for Action Against Privatisation of Health Services, Madhya Pradesh has strongly opposed the Madhya Pradesh government's reported decision to hand over 18 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the districts of Rewa, Dewas and Guna to private institutions.

By A Representative   The Indo-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) organised a public meeting at the Press Club of India on Thursday to mark what organisers described as the 1,000th day of the "genocide in Gaza" since October 7, 2023. The event brought together diplomats, journalists, academics, activists and writers, who expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for an end to the conflict and Israeli occupation.

By Mansee Bal Bhargava    In a world fractured by war and violence, fragmented by ideologies, and driven by capitalism, there is a serious void of global pacifists who can voice the suffering of many and work toward peace. This void becomes even more critical as the declining credibility and compliance of the United Nations signals a civilizational crisis, while the escalating planetary crisis points toward ecological collapse. Amidst this global turmoil, searching for pacifist leaders may seem naïve—but for a believer in peace and ecology, it is a pursuit worth undertaking. At the very least, this effort serves as a reminder of Carl von Ossietzky’s words: "We cannot speak to the conscience of the world when our own conscience is asleep." In every scientific endeavor, seeking conscience is reason enough to look toward Ossietzky.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Florence is known as the "Cradle of the Renaissance," and the Uffizi Gallery continues to preserve that legacy through its masterpieces. Set against the green canvas of this Tuscan city, art, history, and architecture draw visitors from around the world.

By Harsh Thakor*   The 250th anniversary of American independence has once again revived debates over the legacy of the American Revolution of 1776. For many Americans, it symbolizes the birth of liberty and constitutional government. Others view it as the foundation of a society built on slavery, Indigenous dispossession and capitalist expansion. Both perspectives contain elements of truth. From a Marxist standpoint, the Revolution represented a decisive historical advance over monarchy and colonial rule, yet it also preserved new forms of class domination that shaped the future of the United States.