Countrywide Programs to Mark the Birth Anniversary of Bhagat Singh
THE CPI(ML) held at various places in the country many events to mark the 111th birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on 28 September 2018. Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya was present at Ara in Bihar where he garlanded the statue of Bhagat Singh, and said that today the youth, working class, farmers, and all democracy-loving people of the country are remembering Bhagat Singh which also means to us to recognize that the freedom for which he fought and gave his life is now in danger. At the rally organized yesterday at the Gandhi Maidan, we resolved to protect freedom, democracy, and the Constitution of the country and fight against corporate loot and communal fascism. If Bhagat Singh had been here today, he would have fought to throw out the fascist communal forces that are threatening the country. Our motto is, ‘Naye Bharat ke Vaaste - Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar ke Raaste’ (Building a New India through Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar’s path). Earlier, AISA, RYA, and AIPWA activists organized a march from the Party office to the Bhagat Singh statue at Karman Tola.
AISA Beguserai unit observed Bhagat Singh’s anniversary as Protest Day against communalism. A march was organized from the AISA office to Shaheed Smarak, led by comrades Salman Rain and Ajay Kumar. AISA State Joint Secretary Com. Watan Kumar said on this occasion that the path shown by Bhagat Singh was the best way to struggle against corporate loot, communal fascism, unemployment and inequality.
In Jharkhand, the CPI(ML) organized a march and mass meeting at Ranchi. Speakers pledged to fight the government which has given distinction to Jharkhand as the first State where the government honours convicted killers and oppresses victims and at the same time the Raghubar government has become synonymous with starvation deaths and mob lynching.
The march resonated with slogans against starvation deaths and communal polarization, the demand for punishment to those responsible for the starvation deaths of Santoshi and others, and release of the human rights activists arrested under fabricated charges. The rally started from the Party office and proceeded via Shaheed Chowk to Albert Ekka Chowk where it culminated in a meeting. Speakers at the meeting said that the Raghubar government denies that the deaths are due to starvation but the truth is that Santoshi and many others after her died for lack of food. The government continues to deny the starvation deaths and has failed to identify and punish the guilty.
Demands were made through the rally for ending the mandatory Aadhar and biometrics check for ration distribution, and withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Amendments Bill.
At Haldwani in Uttarakhand, an Inquilab Rally was held, attended by hundreds of farmers, workers, and members of women’s organizations. The rally began at Abdullah Building and marched to Buddha Park where it culminated in a meeting.
Addressing the meeting, State Secretary Com. Raja Bahuguna said that Bhagat Singh’s ideas are more relevant than ever today. He remembered that Bhagat Singh had said that when a government attacks the fundamental rights of the people, it becomes the fundamental duty of the people to root out and throw out that government. He said that the Modi government has failed to deliver on all its promises of ending corruption, creating jobs, ending violence on women, loan waivers and relief for farmers and the poor. Instead, there is rampant corruption including the biggest scam ever (Rafale deal), increasing attacks on women, dalits, farmers, minorities, students and youth, and government protection for the perpetrators of these attacks.
Peasant leader Bahadur Singh Jangi said that the government has betrayed the country and Uttarakhand on all fronts including the issue of revenue village status for Bindukhatta, forest rights for forest-dwellers, and forcible acquisition of farmers’ lands in the name of ‘elephant corridor’ and ‘tiger reserve’. Indresh Maikhuri said that the condition of schools and hospitals in Uttarakhand is at an abysmal low. AICCTU State Secretary Com. KK Bora said that the government is openly working for the profit of corporate companies and against the interests of workers. Industrial Areas of SIDCUL have become an open jail for workers. Udham Singh Nagar District Secretary Anand Singh said that we must walk on the path shown by Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar to achieve the India of their dreams.
At the end of the meeting, a memorandum on national issues was submitted to the President, and another memorandum on Uttarakhand State issues was submitted to the Chief Minister.
Hundreds of people participated in the Inquilab Rally, including CPM leader Avtar Singh, CPI leder Rajendra Kumar Gupta, journalist Sartaj Alam, Ambedkar Mission President GS Tamta, Chandrashekhar Bhatt, Madan Mohan Chamoli, Vimla Rauthan, Nishan Singh, Lalit Matiyali, Kailash Joshi, ASHA Union leaders Neeta Kashyap, Mamta Panu, Kulvinder Kaur and others.
