A recent meeting organised at the grain market in Barnala, Punjab, in order to resurrect the revolutionary spirit of Bhagat Singh on the occasion of his 114th birth anniversary, addressed by leaders of organisations of landed peasantry and landless agricultural labourers, saw opposition to pro-corporate policies of the government and condemnation of agricultural laws.
Of the two lakh participants, 70% comprised the youth and 30,000 women. Congratulating people on the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)-Ekta Ugrahan said that the black agricultural laws are an integral aspect of the policies being imposed upon our people by imperialist forces through the collaborating rulers of our country.
He stressed upon the unavoidable need to continue marching ahead on the path leading to the final defeat of imperialism as shown by Bhagat Singh. By taking inspiration from the life and ideology of Bhagat Singh, he added, the present struggle will be continued to be waged not only till these black laws are repealed but also till the country is liberated from the blood sucking exploitation of the imperialists and their collaborators.
Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary, BKU ( Ekta Ugrahan) thanked the people for the “historic” Bharat bandh on September 27. He said that the British rulers had to leave the country on account of the heroic struggle of Bhagat Singh, his comrades and people but imperialism as an exploitative power remained here, and now the loot and hegemonic oppression by the multinational corporations have increased manifold.
He further said that the rulers of our country have placed our rich natural resources like land, water, minerals and big industrial concerns in the lap of these imperialist countries and corporates and throw away prices, and now these imperialist vultures are on their toes to pounce upon our agricultural produce, marketing system and the entire food chain through these black laws brought by the “traitorous” Modi government.
BKU vice president Jhanda Singh Jethuke said that people can advance on the path of their liberation by following the ideas of Bhagat Singh, rising above the sectarian divisions based upon religion and caste and by organising broad, determined and united struggles.
By throwing light upon the unique role played by the women in the present struggle, Harinder Bindu, BKU's women wing's leader said that without their equal participation the “nefarious anti-people policies” of the imperialists cannot be defeated. She said that the women have categorically proved in the present struggle they are equally capable of leading and organising any struggle.
Lachhman Singh Sewewala, general secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union focussed upon the significance of class struggle and the peasant-worker unity in the ideology of Bhagat Singh and said that the present class-based peasant movement has opened the way to a resolute defeat of Modi government's decisive policies of communalism, casteism and sectarian nationalism.
Ashwani Ghuda and Hoshiar Salemgarh of the Naujwan Bharat Sabha and the Punjab Students' Union (Shaheed Randhawa) called upon the youth to stand guard upon the anti-imperialist legacy of Bhagat Singh enshrined in his writings especially his message to the youth of India.Others who addressed the conference included Democratic Teachers' Front's Digvijay Pal Sharma, Jagrup Singh of the Contract Employees Union, Joginder Ghasi Ram Nain and Manjit Singh from Haryana.
The message of Bhagat Singh was communicated through a choreography penned by Amolak Singh and presented by the People's Art Theatre. Artists of the Lok Sangeet Mandali, Masani and Dhaula, sang songs depicting anti-imperialist legacy.
The meet passed resolute presented by Shingara Singh Mann, which included the demand to restore the original form of Jallianwala Bagh, release of all the intellectuals, withdrawal the orders demanding land phards, compensation to the tune of Rs 60,000 per acre to the farmers and Rs 30,000 per acre to the workers’ families for ruined cotton crop, and strong legal action against pesticide dealers who have sold spurious pesticides.
Those who were present in this conference included Dr Surjeet Lee, Buta Singh Nawanshehar, Ram Swarm Lakhewali, Rajinder Bhadaur and Dr Harjinder Singh Sran and Manjeet Aulakh.
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*Freelance journalist, who toured Punjab
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