Protest in Jalandhar condemning Fake Encounters and Corporate Loot in the Name of Anti-Maoist Operation

On June 10^th an impressive, impactful and colourful state level convention was organised by six Communist parties and revolutionary organizations of Punjab at the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall in Jalandhar, condemning Fake Encounters and Corporate Loot in the Name of Anti-Maoist Operations. Speakers linked the genocide of Operation Kager with the neo-fascist current of Modi led BJP as a whole and the burning issues of the day. Very significant event in showcasing the collective spirit to extinguish the fascist tide. Attended by approximately 200 persons.

The convention was conducted by comrades Jasbir Kaur Natt, Ratan Singh Randhawa, Prithipal Singh Marimegha, Ajmer Singh Samra, Mukhtiar Singh Puhla, and Narinder Singh Safipur. The main speakers included Comrade Mangat Ram Pasla, General Secretary of RMPI; Comrade Bant Singh Brar, State Secretary of CPI; Comrade Darshan Khatkar, senior leader of CPI(ML) New Democracy; Comrade Gurmeet Singh Bakhtpur, State Secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation; Comrade Kiran Jeet Singh Sekhon, Polit Bureau member of MCPI-U; and Mukhtiar Singh Puhla, State Leader of Inquilabi Kendra Punjab.

Strongly condemning the BJP-led central government, the speakers vociferously condemned the central government for smearing false propaganda that the police encounters of Maoists, Naxalites, and Adivasis are being undertaken to extinguish terrorism. They projected how in actual fact , these unconstitutional killings (extra-judicial executions) had the objective of wiping out the people’s resistance that is igniting against the policy of handing over all natural resources—including water, forests, and land—and public sector assets to corporate houses. The speakers summarised that the Modi government was doing all this to camouflage its widespread failures and to sponsor the exploitative and oppressive rule of imperialist and capitalist plunder.

They also called upon the people of the country to unwaveringly launch s people’s struggles to stop the massacre of Palestinians by Israel and to demand Palestine’s liberation; to oppose U.S. President Trump’s forced deportation of migrants and the inhuman shackling and deportation of Indians; and to put an end to the trade war launched by Trump, which is increasing the threat of world war.

The leaders further demanded that the Punjab government refrain from suppressing the legitimate demands of workers, farmers, employees, and other labouring classes through merciless police repression. They declared complete support for the struggles of organizations and people waging resistance against the forcible acquisition of thousands of acres of fertile land to carve the path for for corporate loot to reap profits.

Through a resolution passed unanimously at the convention, a strong demand was raised to terminate the fake police encounters in Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country in which Maoists and Naxalites are being martyred; to combat the divisive and communal policies being established by g poisonous propaganda and to stop handing over the country's invaluable natural resources and human capital to domestic and foreign corporate plunderers under the false pretext of eliminating Maoism. It was also demanded that the displacement of Adivasis, who have been inhabiting in forests since ancient times, be immediately stopped.

Additionally, the resolution called for an end to the false campaigns spreading hatred against minorities across the country—especially Muslims and Christians; to repeal the injudicious amendments made to Waqf laws; to oppose the hate propaganda targeting Muslims and Kashmiris under the cover of the Pulwama terrorist incident; and to stop inciting blind nationalism through "Operation Sand Dune" for political gain. A demand was also made for the immediate release of intellectuals, progressive activists, journalists, and anchors who write and speak against the central government.

Following the conclusion of the convention, a militant protest march was staged traversing through the streets of the city resonating slogans against the above-mentioned policy framework. The proceedings were effectively moderated by Kanwaljeet Khanna.

Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist. Thanks information from Buta Sing Mehmoddpur of Punjab.