Today, over three dozen people’s democratic organizations comprising around 10000 persons from Punjab united and converged in a powerful rally and protest march to condemn the ongoing merciless massacre of Adivasis and their allied resistance forces. It symbolised the massive strength of the organised mass political democrat tic movement in Punjab and was a testament to the qualitative political consciousness. of it. Most significant that it was a concoction of 4 different tends within the Communist Revolutionary camp, rallying people from al walks of life and thus gave a fitting blow to sectarianism. -doing just what the doctor ordered for the democratic movement. This rally marked a historic stepping stone in fermenting a united struggle against the coordinated offensive waged on behalf of corporate capital worldwide. The democratic people’s movement of Punjab has once again showcased its revolutionary democratic character. The gathering was testament how an organised movement can shake the neo-fascist rulers at the very core. Possibly the most intensive united protest staged by revolutionary democratic forces to project and condemn Operation Kagar and link it with the neo-fascist threat and repression on the whole., being a rallying pint from people of diverse strata of society., be it farmers, agricultural labourers, industrial workers, students or Intellectuals.
The protest wholeheartedly condemned state-sponsored violence and called for an immediate halt to all military operations, including Operation Kagaar, in Adivasi regions; an end to fake encounters, custodial killings, and all forms of state repression; the dismantling of police camps from tribal areas; and a complete withdrawal of police and paramilitary forces from Adivasi territories. The rally symbolised revolutionary democratic fervourat it’s highest pitch and was a fitting expression of democratic solidarity with Adivasi struggles and a clear demand to stop war on the people. This gathering of thousands of Punjab’s struggling people was not merely a personification of solidarity with the tribal people’s movement in far-flung regions but also symbolised a nationwide collective struggle against the common enemy: global imperialist corporations, their servile Indian governments, and the comprador capitalist classes. Such resistance waged against the oppression occurring in any corner of the country on behalf of imperialist capital will play an important role in building a nationwide resistance by the working people against this merciless offensive,
A powerful voice has been raised from the land of Moga against the oppressive onslaught unleashed by the government on the most oppressed and marginalized tribal communities in the country. A demand has been voiced to stop the attacks on intellectuals, democratic rights activists, Maoist revolutionaries, and all those steadfastly defending tribal rights. A link was forged between the massacre of tribal farmers with the multi-pronged offensive on Punjab’s farmers’ lands, the destruction of livelihoods, and the widespread attack on the environment, triggered by global corporate giants. The concerns voiced during the speeches at this gathering ranged from the tribal regions to the brutal oppression in Kashmir, the assault on Punjab’s fertile lands, and the suppression of democratic voices across the country. These injustices and attacks on democratic rights were linked with the imperialist agenda of so-called economic reforms. A voice was also raised in solidarity with the struggling Palestinian people and against the inhumane atrocities being committed in Gaza.
The protesters emphatically demanded an end to the corporate plunder of water, forests, land, and minerals in Adivasi regions, denouncing the exploitative economic models that favour corporate profit over indigenous lives and livelihoods. They called for the scrapping of these anti-people policies and demanded a complete halt to drone and helicopter bombings targeting Adivasi communities. The protest also raised a clear call for the repeal of draconian laws such as the UAPA and AFSPA, the dissolution of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the unconditional release of all imprisoned democratic rights activists. Protesters further demanded the lifting of bans on people’s organizations and movements, and restoration of the democratic right to protest and resist. The message was unanimous: the state must terminate the war on its own people and respect he democratic rights and constitutional guarantees of all citizens.
Before the march a massive gathering of farmers, workers, youth, students, women, rationalists, defenders of democratic rights, progressive writers, artists, and cultural activists at grain market was addressed by various leaders. State President of BKU Ekta (Ekta-Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan, State President of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) Kulwinder Singh Warraich, General Secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Lakhman Singh Sewewala, Convener of the Anti-Operation Green Hunt Democratic Front Dr. Parminder, General Secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakonda) Harnek Singh Mehima, State Press Secretary of the Krantikari Kisan Union Avtar Singh Mehima, State President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Baldev Singh Zira, State President of the Pendu Mazdoor Union Tarsem Peter, President of the Karkhana Mazdoor Union Lakhwinder Singh, State President of the Tarksheel Society Punjab Rajinder Bhadaur, State President of the Jamhoori Adhikar Sabha Punjab Pritpal Singh, State President of PSU Ranbir Singh Randhawa, Leader of PSU (Shaheed Randhawa) Hushiar Singh, State President of the Medical Practitioners Association Dhanna Mall Goel, and District President of the Ex-Servicemen Krantikari Union Balkaran Singh addressed the gathering. The Dalit and Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, the Auto Rickshaw Union Moga, and several other mass organisations also participated in the gathering.
They narrated how the bloody operations being unfurled by deploying hundreds of thousands of paramilitary forces in Bastar and other Adivasi regions have an objective of placing the water-forest-land and mineral wealth of the country to the mercy of foreign and domestic corporate monopolies.
By eradicating all democratic and human values and resorting to bombings through drones and helicopters, it is a testament that the Modi government is determined on extinguishing the Adivasi people and other struggling forces defending their rights, in order to clear the forests to pave way for mining projects owned by predatory capitalists.
As part of this brutal war, pro-people writers, public intellectuals, and activists of democratic and human rights who rightfully oppose the government’s anti-people policies and repressive attacks are being targeted and framed under false cases, while Adivasis and Maoists are being killed in staged encounters.
The rampant greed of big corporate houses has triggered an all-out assault on the farmlands, agriculture, and mineral wealth of the entire country. What is unfolding in Adivasi regions today is linked to a larger rapacious campaign to rob resources through violence and repression. If India’s working masses do not rise in united resistance now, this corporate-driven war will accentuate and soon engulf people across every state.
This fascist reign of terror unleashed in Adivasi regions is targeting resistance forces in Punjab as well, patronising the same corporate interests. Here too, as people’s struggles intensify, the violations of democratic rights and escalating repression through restrictions bans will elevate.
This rally marked a historic stepping stone in fermenting a united struggle against the coordinated offensive waged on behalf of corporate capital worldwide.
Deemocratic activist Buta Singh Mehmoodpur presented a set of resolutions, all of which were passed unanimously by a show of hands. These resolutions tore into the state’s war on its own people—demanding the immediate cessation of Operation Kagaar and all other paramilitary offensives in Adivasi territories, an end to the cold-blooded massacres of Adivasis and Maoists, and the scrapping of anti-people economic policies designed to serve corporate greed at the expense of the poor. A special resolution condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza and declared the rally’s unflinching solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle for liberation.
A message of solidarity from Dr. Navsharan, distinguished democratic activist and daughter of legendary playwright Gursharan Singh. was read out. She informed in her message that this September, Gursharan Singh’s birth anniversary in Amritsar would be dedicated to the cause of Adivasi struggles. This forum extended a call for all democratic voices to stand united and participate in the commemorative event.
Songs of resistance and solidarity were performed by a host of singers, most notably Jagsir Jeeda of PLS Manch, whose heart rendering verses unfolded the spirit of struggle into the hearts of the participants. Stage secretary Jagtar Kalajhar steered the proceedings with precision and efficiency.
Harsh Thakor is
freelance journalist in touch with the revolutionary movement in
Punjab. Thanks Buta Singh Mehmoodpur and Pvael Kussaf or information.
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