SALUTE THE DEMOCRATIC FORCES OF PUNJAB
FOR SHIMMERING THE TORCH OF JUSTICE LIKE A PRAIRIE FIRE IN PROTEST AGAINST THE
ARRESTS OF VARAVARA RAO AND OTHER URBAN INTELLECTUALS. PROTEST ENGULFED ALMOST
EVERY AREA OF PUNJAB.HITTING PROTO-FASCISM AT ITS HARDEST POINT.
By Harsh Thakor
Punjab illuminates flame of protest against detention of
Varavara Rao and other prisoners framed in Bhima Koregaon conspiracy
case.-Harsh Thakor
The state of Punjab
shimmered with a series of protests against the arrest of Varavara Rao and the
other intellectuals detained, who were fabricated by the rulers in The Bhimrao
Koregaon conspiracy case. Spark of resistance has engulfed many regions of Punjab with significant involvement of the peasantry and
youth. No state in India has
been able to galvanize forces to the extent of Punjab
on this issue with boiling pot of indignation against fascism reaching its
crescendo.
Although initiated by the Association for Democratic Rights
,Punjab the mantle of protest against the arrests was taken up by several
democratic organizations like the Punjab Koksabhyacharak Manch ,Punjab Students
Union Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Punjab Students Union(Shaheed Randhawa),Bhartaiya
Kisan Union(Ugrahan),Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Krantikaki Pendu Mazdoor Union,
Kiri Kisan Union, Tarksheel Society .Inquilabi Kendra etc. The lockdown
prevented a state level gathering but with great organizational precision
protests were staged in different districts, with flag marches and corner
meetings. The areas encompassed for programmes included Patiala . Amritsar ,
Ludhiana , Sangrur,
Moga, Muktsar, Mansa, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Bathinda. The protests in the
Malwa region constituted more of the peasantry and landless labourers while
Northern areas comprised more of the intellectual sections. Prominent activists
were Jagmohan Singh of AFDR.,Amolak Singh of Punjab Loksabhyacharak
Manch,Swaranjeet Singh of Lok Sangram Morcha,Laxman Sewewala of Punjab Khet
Mazdoor Union,Raminder Singh of Naujwan Bhrat Sabha, Tanveer Singh of Punjab
Students Union. Overall 30 areas of Punjab
were covered.
The best protest took place in Sangrur on 20th July
comprising the Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union,Lok Sangram Manch and Zameen
Prapt Sangrash Committee. It was addressed by Sanjeev Mintu of Revolutionary
agricultural labour Union, Swaranjeet Singh of AFDR ,Rashpinder Jimmy of Punjab
Radical Students Union, Sukhwinder Pappi of Zameen Prapti Sangarsh Committee (ZPSC)
and Lal Chand of Jamhoori Morcha..Speakers addressed the arrest of Vara Vara
Rao and urban intellectuals in context of ascendancy and onslaught of Hindutva
fascism as a whole and in meticuluos depth summarized how the activists were
foisted as conspirators. They narrated the connection between the most
opressive pro-corporate semi-feudal social order with the Hindutva ideology
.Significant that area of Sangrur is the centre of the movement of the dalit
agricultural labour for winning land rights of 1/3rd panchayat land .The cases
of Gautam Navlakah,Anand Teltumbde and Sudha Bhradwaj were highlighted in
addition to Vara Vara Rao and the fascist element of UAPA law was elaborated in
detail. Examples were narrated of attack by police on campuses sin Jawaharlal Nehru
University in Delhi and Jamia university. Vociferously they
condemned the detention of the prisoners inspite of prevalence of Corona epidemic in their
jails
AFDR unit of Bathinda with great effect ignited torch of
protest striking the saffron rulers ideologically in their very belly. With
deep depth it touched upon how democracy was hit in its very backbone with the
fascisation of the state.
In Babri Ghadr hall in Jalandhar and impactful meting was
staged highlighting how imperialism patronized such arrests which virtually
continued the colonial legacy.
In Barnala Stri Jagriti Manch staged an impressive protest
of around 25 women in solidarity against the arrests.Jalandhar town also had a
vociferous protest of women on 20th July. in 15 areas.
Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union organized small but qualitative
protests in Bathinda ,Malout ,Faridkot,Lambi Sangrur and Muktsar,jointly with
their 2 day dharna confronting monopoly private micro-finance corporations. and
demanding cancellation of debts.
Punjab Students Union and Naujwan Bharat Sabha mobilized
students and youth in rallies in Moga, Sangrur and Patiala , staging most qualitative protests.
They highlighted the issue of Bhima Rao Koregaon conspiracy when commemorating
martyrdom of Prithipal Singh Randhawa. Noteworthy that it coincided with the
preparation of the work to organize dalit agricultural labour for a rally
resist opression of micro-finance companies on 24th July.
Commemorating the 41st death anniversary of martyr Prithipal
Singh Randhawa the Punjab Students Union (Shaheed Randhawa) highlighted how the
arrest of the urban intellectuals was a duplication of the opression Randhawa
faced in his days as a leader and how his example should be emulated today to
confront the Neo-fascism prevailing.
Small but notable demonstrations were also held in Nawnashr,
Mansa and Rampura villages.
Very significant that in spite of all curbing of assembly
because of Corona
pandemic, resilience was all the more intense against proto-fascism. Positive
that the activists could propagate the issue relating it to the day to day
struggles of the masses. Involvement of basic classes was heartening.
Democratic forces should salute the forces of Punjab for rising to the very hour,
living up to the very democratic tradition of Punjab .
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