People's Democracy

Protest Marches Held Against Mumbai And Srinagar Blasts

THE CPI(M) Delhi state committee and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) held a silent march to protest against the heinous terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Srinagar. Hundreds of women and men participated in the march held on July 13, 2006 in Delhi. A meeting was held at the conclusion of the march.

The meeting was addressed, among others, by PMS Grewal, secretary, Delhi state committee of CPI(M), Sudha Sundararaman, general secretary AIDWA, and Ashalata, secretary Delhi state AIDWA. Kirti Singh, president of Delhi state AIDWA presided over the meeting.

The meeting began with observance of two minutes silence in memory of those killed in the Mumbai and Srinagar blasts.

The speakers described these terrorist attacks as inhuman acts perpetrated by those who seek to undermine the unity of the country and exacerbate communal tensions. They appealed to the people to see through this cynical game and maintain their unity. Any growth in communal tensions only detracts from the myriad problems of livelihood faced by the working people and weaken the struggle to ameliorate them.

The speakers called upon the Maharashtra and central governments to bring to book the perpetrators of these barbaric crimes and take firm steps to eliminate terrorist networks operating in the country.

The speakers also criticised the BJP for trying to make political capital of this human tragedy. Statements issued by BJP leaders indicate desperation to somehow use these blasts for heightening communal tensions in a quest to regain their lost political influence. This is highly condemnable and must be strongly opposed.

The meeting ended with the resolve to fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and all forms of communalism.

IN ORISSA

The CPI(M) Orissa unit organised a human chain in Bhubhaneswar on July 13, 2006 protesting the bomb blasts in Mumbai and Sringar and calling for peace and harmony. Earlier at the call of the Left parties, activists assembled at the CPI(M) state committee office and took out a procession to reach the place where human chain was held. Among those who led the action included Jaganath Mishra, Santosh Das, Suresh Panigrahi, Abhiram Behra, Nityanand Parida, Nav Kishore Mohanty and others.

RAJASTHAN

Under the leadership of CPI(M), hundreds of people gathered at Shaheed Smarak on July 15 to protest the bomb blasts. They sported black scarves on their mouths as a mark of protest against the terrorist attacks. They held placards condemning these blasts and calling for peace and harmony. They took out a rally from government hostel to Collectorate circle. Those who participated in the rally observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for those killed in the bomb blasts. The procession was led by Waqar ul Ahad, Prahlad Kumar Sharma, Bishamber Sahay Sharma, Babulal Lugarya, Kusum Saiwal and others. 

OTHER PLACES

The CPI(M) local committee of Katihar, Bihar organised a peace march on July 14 condemning the terrorists attack and appealing for calm and peace. In a statement the Party committee strongly denounced these attacks saying they were intended to divide the people of the country on communal lines.

In Hyderabad CPI(M) activists burnt effigies of terrorism in protest against the bomb blasts in Mumbai and Sringar. They held a demonstration after this and condemned the attempts of the terrorists to create divisions among the people. They observed two minute silence as a mark of respect to those killed in the blasts.