PRAGOTI

Hundreds of workers of the left and democratic parties - CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc, JD(S), TDP and concerned citizens along with students, teachers and women activists demonstrated in front of the Israeli embassy in the capital on Friday, the January 9, 2009. They were protesting against the Israeli attacks on Gaza strip and urging the Government of India to scrap the military pact and all ties with Israel.

Over the last three days, flood victims in North Bihar have been combating government apathy and police oppression through sustained protest and mass action. Pragoti presents three news items from IANS and INN on the protests.

"The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) today, while saying 'no' to terrorism and 'yes' to caution on media reportage of terrorism has called upon the government to desist from clamping down on the media be it visual or print and instead put in order a Media Council with teeth to act without pressure from the government or other vested interests" Reports INN

IN what must be termed as the worst natural calamity to hit the country in recent memory, the floods in Bihar caused by the shift in the course of the flow of river Kosi, have affected more than two crores of people, rendering more than 20 lakh homeless in 15 of the most densely-populated districts of the state. Worse is the fact that the agony continues and is expected to continue till the waters recede many months later, not before January 2009. An INN editorial.