People's Democracy

IN response to the call given by the Left parties for protest actions against the US military attack on Afghanistan hundreds of party workers and sympathisers participated in the rallies organised by the Party in various cities of Rajasthan. Besides Jaipur the most notable demonstrations were held in Ganganagar, Sikar, Kota and Udaipur. In Jaipur, the rally started from the martyre memorial and marching through Sansar Chandra Road, Chandpol and Chhoti. Chaupad reached Badi chaupad where it was converted into a meeting. State secretary of the CPI(M) led the rally along with Babulal Lugaria, Dushyant Ojha and Prem Chand.

While addressing the rallyists Hari Ram Chauhan condemned recent terrorist activities in the USA and the role of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, blaming the USA he remarked that the present day terrorist groups are essentially creation of the USA itself. He asserted that the military attack on Afghanistan could lead to a world war surely a very dangerous proposition. The state secretary of the CPI(M) castigated the role of the government of India in attemtping to act as a lackey of the US imperialism. The meeting was also addressed by Vasudev and Babulala Lugaria of the CPI(M) and Prem Chand and Nisha Siddhu of the CPI.

In Haryana, Left parties organised demonstrations, on October 12, in Rohtak, Karnal, Panipat, Fatehabad and Hisar to protest against the US attack on Afghanistan.

In Rohtak, a silent march which passed through the main streets of the city was organised by the Anti-Imperialism Front in which hundreds of students, teachers, workers, artists, women and children participated. The processionists were carrying banners and placards on which slogan were written in support of peace and condemnation of the US war. A protest meeting was also held at the local Mansarover park. Prominent among those who addressed the audience of were Professor Manmohan, historian Dr Suraj Bhan, the state vice-president of AIDWA Ms Shubha.

In Karnal, the district committee of the CPI(M) organised the anti-US war demonstration. The procession was led by the district secretary Sube Singh and other members of the district committee. In Panipat, a joint demonstration was organised by the CPI(M) and the CPI. Corner meetings were held in Fatehabad at the main road crossings at the initiative of the district committee of the CPI(M).

The Left front organised a dharna and a meeting on October 12, at the Ranvir Verma crossing to protest against the US military attack on Afghanistan. In the dharna, both leaders and workers of the CPI(M), CPI, Forward Block and Marxist Coordination Committee participated. Dr Mukhdev Sharma presided over the meeting. A large number of banners and placards were displayed at the site of dharna. These banners and placards carried anti-war and anti-US imperialism slogans. Among those who addressed the meeting were A K Roy, Gopi Kant Bakshi, Amarendra Narain Singh, Ganesh Dhar, Rajiv Kumar Sahu and Gunvant Rai Mehta.

Almost everyone who addressed the meeting condemned terrorism in the strongest language. At the same time the wanton attack on Afghanistan by the USA was also condemned vociferously. Speaker after speaker blamed the CIA for patronising Bin Laden in the past to overthrow the Najibullah government of Afghanistan. They also asserted that it is the USA which has not only been harbouring terrorists world over to defeat the national liberation movement but also shamelessly indulging in state terrorist and imperialist activities in different countries.

The CPI(M) workers and sympathisers assembled in a large number from the early morning on October 12 to participate in a dharna at the District Headquarters to protest against the US invasion of Afghanistan. Among those who addressed the meeting organised on this occasion were the state committee member, Bachchiram Konswal, district secretary Surender Singh Sajwan, member the state secretariat Virender Bhandari, Shiv Prasad Deoli Rajender Purohit, Indu Nautial and Anant Akash. A memorandum addressed to the UN, secretary general was submitted to the District Megistrate which besides condemning the terrorist action of September 11, pointed out that on the pretext of fighting international terrorism the US is targeting particularly those countries which refuse to submit to its imperialist designs. However, its policy towards dealing with terrorism on the Indian soil is ambivalent. The heavy bombardment of Afghanistan has taken a heavy toll of life besides inflicting other miseries on the innocent civilian population of the country. The military attack on Afghanistan is in fact a prelude to undeclared Third Word War.

The CPI(M) organised both a demonstration and a meeting on October 12 to protest against the military attack on Afghanistan by the USA and its allies. While addressing the meeting held at the district committee ground Mukul Singh, member state secretariat condemned the terrorist attack on WTC in New York and Pentagon in Washington involving heavy toll of innocent lives. He suggested that terrorism is to be fought in the framework of the international law. However, he totally disapproved of the unilateral action of the US to invade Afghanistan. Mukul Singh asserted that the US attack was essentially begnning of an attempt to subjugate the world with the sinister objective of exploiting it. President of Agricultural Workers Union Shamsher Khan warned the audience that the US act of aggression is merely an attempt to impose moribund capitalism on the world on the pretext fighting terrorism. Calling Bin Laden Bhasmasur of the USA Vishwamitra Dixit accused the USA for fomenting terrorism world over. The meeting was presided over by Harish Chandra who cautioned the people that certain sections were trying to identify terrorism with Islam which is a sinister move on the part mischevious elements in the Indian society.