New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) held a major rally by itself for the first time in years, drawing thousands of party workers and supporters from across the country to Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Tuesday.
The ‘Badlav Zaroori Hai’ rally was marked by a sea of red flags and posters calling for a political change and support to the CPI in its campaign against the BJP government. Party workers arrived from different states despite adverse weather, floods and, according to the CPI, police action in some places.
CPI general secretary D Raja said the country was facing a deepening crisis with the Constitution, democracy, secularism and federalism under threat, and that the people were looking for change.
“Ever since Mr Modi became the prime minister, our nation has continued to be in crisis. The crisis is only deepening. There are growing threats to the Constitution, democracy, secularism and federalism. People are looking for a change,” Raja said.
“Badlaav Zaroori Hai is not a CPI slogan; it is India’s, it is the people’s,” he said.
CPI national secretary Annie Raja accused the RSS-BJP government of pursuing policies that benefited corporates and capitalists while leaving ordinary people and vulnerable sections behind.
“Today, the fascist RSS-BJP government is not for the common people of this country. It is for corporates and capitalists. The capitalists are benefiting,” she said.
Annie Raja alleged that tribal communities were being displaced and bulldozers were being used against them. Referring to Manipur, she said the affected people there included Adivasis.
“Their land and the resources beneath it are being targeted,” she said.
Criticising the government’s record on women, she cited official data to say that despite the ‘Beti Bachao’ campaign, female foeticide continued. The Left leader also questioned the delay in implementing the law to provide reservation for women in legislature.
CPI leader Girish Chandra Sharma said party workers from Uttar Pradesh had been placed under house arrest to prevent them from reaching Delhi, but they nevertheless made it to the rally.
“Despite all the challenges, these comrades have reached the rally after giving the Modi-Yogi police the slip,” he said.
Attacking the government over the agrarian crisis, Sharma said farmers were not getting remunerative prices for their produce even as input costs had risen.
He questioned the promise of doubling farmers’ incomes and referred to reports of farmer suicides. Recalling the year-long farmers’ protest on the borders of Delhi, he said farmers had been branded “Khalistanis” but demonstrated they could overcome every barrier.
Recalling the CPI’s campaign during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Sharma said the party had raised the slogan “Bhajpa hatao, desh bachao” and undertaken five padyatras.
“It became the cry of the people, and the BJP lost in 2004,” he said.
Sharma announced that the CPI would organise a nationwide ‘Jail Bharo’ programme from December 1 to 3, claiming that more than 5 lakh people would court arrest.
At the beginning of the rally, senior CPI leader Pallab Sengupta placed a condolence resolution expressing grief over the loss of lives and the suffering caused by the devastating floods in Nepal and Bihar.
The resolution expressed solidarity with the affected people, conveyed condolences to bereaved families and called for urgent relief, rehabilitation and all necessary assistance.
CPI Delhi secretary and national executive member Dinesh Varshney, who organised the rally along with the CPI National Centre, Delhi State Council, AITUC, AISF, AIYF Delhi and volunteers, delivered the welcome address.
Welcoming the thousands who had travelled to Delhi, Varshney said the mobilisation represented a strong protest against the RSS-BJP “misrule” and a demand for change.
“The message from Ramlila Maidan is crystal clear: the CPI is strong, the Left is rising, and the wind is blowing towards change,” he said.
“This rally is not the destination. It is the beginning. Badlaav aayega. Hokar rahega! (Change will happen. It is bound to happen)” Varshney said. PTI AO RUK RUK
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