Rallies across Kolkata and Punjab invoke the spirit of Bhagat Singh

By Harsh Thakor*

On 23 March, the legacy of Shaheed Bhagat Singh was invoked in Kolkata and parts of Punjab through a series of gatherings marking his martyrdom anniversary, amid global political tensions and concerns over escalating conflicts in West Asia.

In Kolkata, a protest programme was held along College Street on the occasion of Anti-Imperialism Day, following a call by several mass organisations. Participants raised demands for an end to ongoing conflicts, protection of natural resources, and the release of prisoners. A street play was performed by the cultural team Red Lantern of the Revolutionary Student Front in front of Presidency University. Representatives from workers’, farmers’ and student groups addressed the gathering, and cultural performances accompanied the procession. The programme concluded with a pledge to oppose imperialism and fascism.

In Punjab, an anti-imperialism conference held in Barnala passed a resolution criticising recent military actions involving the United States and Israel in Iran. Speakers at the conference alleged that such interventions were linked to geopolitical and economic interests in the region and expressed solidarity with the people of Iran. The gathering also criticised the Indian government’s foreign policy stance, calling for a reassessment of its international alignments and advocating closer ties with neighbouring countries.

At Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial, a mass gathering was organised by the Krantikari Kisan Union to commemorate the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and Batukeshwar Dutt. Around 1,000 people, including members of farmer organisations and political groups, attended the event. Floral tributes were paid at the memorial, and speakers, including Darshan Pal, addressed the gathering. The organisers stated that the event aimed to bring together various groups to honour the martyrs and reflect on their legacy.

---

*Freelance journalist

The farmer's burden: How oil, war, and climate are rewriting the price of food

By Vikas Meshram The scorching flames of the Middle East conflict are now slowly reaching the kitchens of ordinary people. The true price of this war is paid in daily markets, vegetable shops, and in the shattered minds of farmers. Expensive crude oil, skyrocketing fertilizer prices, and rising agricultural costs are together creating the conditions for global food inflation — and this crisis is directly tied to what people eat and drink every day.

Economic nationalism under strain as Indian corporates turn to America

By Sandeep Pandey* U.S. federal prosecutors withdrew a criminal case involving allegations that Gautam Adani had bribed officials in India to secure solar energy projects, stating that they lacked sufficient evidence. Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani also settled a civil fraud case with the Securities and Exchange Commission by paying a fine of around ₹180 crore without admitting wrongdoing. In addition, Adani Enterprises reportedly deposited around ₹2,750 crore into the U.S. Treasury to resolve allegations that it had violated U.S. sanctions on Iran through purchases of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

India’s heatwave crisis: How concrete cities are fueling climate emergency

By Rajkumar Sinha* According to recent studies, urban areas are witnessing a much sharper rise in temperatures than rural regions. The planet is currently heading toward an additional 1.9°C of warming — far beyond the target envisioned under the Paris Agreement . A team of climate scientists associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has noted that India’s average temperature increased by nearly 0.9°C during the decade between 2015 and 2024 compared to the early twentieth century (1901–1930). In western and northeastern India, the hottest day of the year has already become 1.5°C to 2°C warmer since the 1950s.

Counterview

Search This Blog