A FUNCTION was organised on August 1 at Bhakna Bhawan in Chandigarh to commemorate the 6^th death anniversary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, an exceptional Communist and former general secretary of the CPI (M).

A large number of people attended the function, organised by leading Punjabi daily Desh Sewak. CPI (M) central secretariat member Joginder Sharma was the chief speaker.

Welcoming party leaders and people to the event, CEO of Desh Sewak Vijay Misra said Comrade Surjeet was a farsighted leader and could foresee the impending control of the corporate sector over the media – both print and electronic.

Thus, with the aim to highlight the problems of society and the common people, Comrade Surjeet started Punjabi daily Desh Sewak in the last decade of the last century.

In his address, CPI (M) central secretariat member Sharma said pursuing and expanding the ideologies Comrade Surjeet believed in would be the best tribute to the leader.

Sharma recollected his long association with Comrade Surjeet and said the former party general secretary was “deadly against the RSS and BJP” representing the extremist sections that are hell bent to divide the society.

Sharma narrated many of Comrade Surjeet’s valiant acts starting from Hoshiarpur where he had unfurled the Tri-colour at the Collector’s Office by removing the Union Jack at a tender age of 16.

Comrade Surjeet was able take quick decisions in most complex situations and had influence on leaders belonging to all parties, Sharma said.

CPI (M) Punjab state committee secretary Charan Singh Virdi, CPI Punjab state council secretary Bant Brar, CPI (M) Haryana state secretary Inderjit Singh, Former Punjab Kisan Sabha general secretary Lehmber Singh Tagger, Justice Ajit Singh, and S Balwant Singh of SAD (Badal) were among those who also addressed the function.