THE trio of anti-people economic policies, communalism and authoritarianism is ruling the country today. This trio wants to become trident. The people of the country and the Left shall have to stop this from happening otherwise it would be disastrous for the people. This was said by Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the CPI(M) and member of parliament. He was addressing a meeting at the Matu Ram Community Centre in Rohtak, on February 7 on the occasion of the birth centenary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet. The meeting was attended by over 1500 people comprising of middle class, intellectuals and Party activists. Sitaram Yechury said that the freedom movement had defeated the hardcore ideology of communalism and the RSS and that is why Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by fanatic Nathu Ram Godse. Today the RSS and its affiliates are trying to pose him as a hero. This is unfortunate for the country. He said that they had asked for an assurance from the prime minister in the parliament that he would defend the constitution, whose oath he swore and would act against its breakers. But the prime minister has not assured us yet. He said that today the freedom of speech, writing and expression is under threat. The BJP and RSS are today mixing communalism with the Hindu dharm for petty political gains which is dangerous for the society. Yechury said that Modi government has failed on the economic front and our economy is receding. Agricultural and industrial production growth is in the negative while the PM is touring foreign countries for inviting the corporates. Modi government has gone beyond Man Mohan Singh government in allowing FDI in sectors like defence which is dangerous for the national security. While refering to the speech of the prime minister in Assam, Yechury said that if he can bring anti people Land Acquisition Ordinance thrice then he can at least bring one pro-people ordinance too. Speaking about Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, he said that in the national politics, Com Surjeet had specialised the art of using contradictions of the ruling class parties in favour of the masses and that is why he was called ‘the Bhishm Pitamah’ of politics. Former state secretary of the Party, Inderjit Singh and Gurchetan Singh (son of Com Surjeet and president of Punjab Kisan Sabha) said that life of Com Surjeet in itself is a history. He served eight years in prison and spent 10 years underground during the freedom movement. Com Surjeet carried forward his family’s legacy of Gadar movement. During his school days only, he had hoisted tricolour replacing the Union Jack. Com Surjeet led many peasant movements in Punjab and Haryana after independence also, the main was the ‘anti-betterment levy’ agitation which had wider participation from Haryana region also. The state committee has brought out a booklet on the life of Com Surjeet which was released by Sitaram Yechury. Three veteran comrades who has participated in the anti-betterment levy agitation of 1959 and had served jail were also felicitated on the occasion. Surender Singh, state secretary of the Party thanked the audience and called upon them to carry forward the struggle of Com Surjeet for a better future of the people and the nation.