A PUBLIC rally was organised in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on September 21 to observe 6th death anniversary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, a renowned Communist leader and former general secretary of CPI(M). Addressing the large gathering, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M A Baby recalled the contributions made by Surjeet in upholding the banner of secularism, and called upon the brave and patriotic people of the state to foster the widest mobilisation of secular and democratic forces against Hindutava outfits and other communalists of various hues.

Baby paid revolutionary tributes to Comrade Surjeet and recalled the glorious contributions made by him in upholding the banner of secularism and providing valiant and fearless leadership in the struggle against imperialist-supported Khalistani terrorists who had disturbed communal harmony in Punjab and threatened unity and integrity of India during the 1980s. He also elaborated on contributions of Comrade Surjeet to the Communist movement in India.

At the rally at Bundala village in Manjhki, Baby stressed on the need to strengthen Left and democratic forces, observing that RSS and its Hindutava outfits have stepped up their activities since BJP came to power at the Centre and are creating horrible communal polarisation threatening unity and integrity of India. Dwelling on the right wing offensive of the Modi government, Baby made an earnest appeal to the Left forces to rally to form a broad Left platform to fight against the neo-liberal policies being pursued by the central government, communalism and imperialism.

CPI(M) Punjab state secretary Charan Singh Virdi announced that a research institute, named Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet Social Sciences Research Institute, will be set up in Bhakna Bhawan, Chandigarh to conduct research in socio, economic and political phenomena in Punjab. Gurmit Singh Dhadda, and Bant Singh Namol presided over the meeting.

Comrade Rattan Singh, a veteran leader, was honoured by the village CPI(M) unit for his contributions to the Communist movement in Punjab. He was presented a citation and a shawl on the occasion.