ON February 28, the Ludhiana district committee of the CPI(M) organised a Satyagraha and Jail Bharo agitation in Ludhiana city on its 15 point charter of demands. The action took place in response to the call of the CPI(M) Central Committee. Before the agitators courted arrest, they organised a big rally at Chattar Singh Park. More than 1,000 satyagrahis then marched towards the deputy commissioner’s office. They offered themselves for arrest but it was the police that retreated. CPI(M) state secretariat member Vijay Misra urged upon the people to start a massive struggle to defeat the anti-people policies of the central and state governments and to vote in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections for the alternative pro-people policies presented by the CPI(M) and other Left parties. CPI(M) district secretary Amarjit  Mattoo condemned the imposition of property tax. Punjab Kisan Sabha general secretary and the CPI(M)’s candidate for Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, condemned the Punjab government for its support to the sand mafia. He was also critical of the worsening education and health services in the state.

PATIALA:  More than 600 CPI(M) workers and supporters marched through the main bazaars of the city before they reached the deputy commissioner’s office where they staged a militant demonstration and offered themselves for arrest. The assistant to the deputy commissioner ordered the arrest of all the satyagrahis but then he also ordered their release after a few minutes. The satyagrahis were protesting against the rising prices of essential commodities, growing unemployment, rampant corruption and commercialisation of education and health services CPI(M) state secretariat member Raghunath Singh condemned the anti-people policies of the central and state governments. CPI(M) district secretary Gurdarshan Singh Khaspur, Dharam Pal Sheel and Mohd Sadiq also addressed the gathering.

SANGRUR: More than 1,000 CPI(M) workers gathered at the Kutchahri Chowk for satyagraha and court arrest, demanding implementation of the 15 point demands charter that forms part of an alternative Left and democratic programme. The satyagrahis marched through the main markets of the town and reached the deputy commissioner’s office in a procession, raising slogans against the anti-people policies of the central and state governments. The protest march was led by CPI(M) district  secretary Bant Singh Namol, Bhoop Chand Channo, Dev Raj, Major Singh Punnawal, Bharpur Singh, Jarnail Singh and Sher Singh Farwahi.  The police backed out when the time came to arrest the satyagrahis.

MOGA: Hundreds of CPI(M) workers marched in a procession, shouting slogans in favour of their 15 point charter of demands  and against the anti-people policies of the UPA government at the centre and Akali-BJP government in the state. The satyagrahis offered themselves for arrest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office where they held a powerful demonstration. But the police retreated from arresting the satyagrahis. Apart from the CPI(M) district secretary Surjit Singh Gagra, Dayal Singh Kaila, Amarjit singh, Parveen Pawan Moga, Ved Parkash, Piara Singh Dhillon  and Jeeta Singh also addressed the gathering.

GARHSHANKAR (HOSHIARPUR):  CPI(M) workers marched in a procession through the bazaars of the town, raising slogans in favour of their 15 point charter and against the policies of the central and state governments. They assembled in front of the SDM office and offered themselves for arrest, but the police backed out. CPI(M) state secretariat member Gurmesh Singh,  its district secretary Darshan Singh Mattoo, state committee member Subhash and a leader of the Janwadi Istri Sabha (an AIDWA affiliate) addressed the workers. Women workers participated in the rally in a large number. A memorandum was submitted to the SDM. Jagdish Singh Chohka, Harbhajan Atwal and Achhar Singh also addressed the gathering.

JALANDHAR: More than 1,200 CPI(M) workers under the leadership of Gurmit Dhadda held a demonstration and offered themselves for arrest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. But the police did not arrest the satyagrahis. While addressing the workers, Dhadda expressed serious concern over the increasing atrocities on women and dalits in the state. He demanded distribution of items of daily use through the public distribution  system. Vasdev Jamsher, Surinder Kheewa, Master Mool Chand, Master Parshottam Lal and Ram Murti also addressed the satyagrahis.

AMRITSAR: A big rally was organised at Amritsar by the CPI(M) district committee with the 15 point charter of demands of the Left parties. While addressing the rally, CPI(M) state secretariat member Vijay Misra said that the Congress and BJP are not interested in addressing the issues facing the common people. Rather they are busy in labelling allegations and counter allegations against each other to divert the attention of the people from basic issues. He congratulated the satyagrahis for the partial victory of their agitation against the imposition of property tax in Punjab. CPI(M) district secretary Amrik Singh, Narinder Dhanjal, Jeet Raj, Ashok Kumar, Sucha Singh Ajnala and Avtar Singh Randhawa also addressed the rally.  

TARN TARAN:  About 500 CPI(M) workers and sympathisers organised a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office at Tarn Taran. CPI(M) district secretary Devinderjit Singh Dhillon, Sukhdev Singh Golwadh and Kulwant Singh Chabhal  addressed the workers. They appealed to the people to get prepared for a long drawn struggle for achievement of the 15 point charter of demands.

KHADUR SAHIB: Another rally in Tarntaran district was organised under the leadership of Pal Singh Jamarai, a CPI(M) state committee member. A powerful demonstration was held in front of the SDM office. Nachattar Singh Toor and Harinder Pal Singh also addressed the gathering.

ROPAR: More than 500 CPI(M) workers marched through the markets of the town and assembled before the deputy commissioner’s office. They offered themselves for arrest but no arrest was made. CPI(M) district secretary Gurdial Singh Dher, Tarsem singh Pallari, Geeta Ram, Kishan Singh and Dalip Singh addressed the rally.

GURDASPUR: CPI(M) district committee in Gurdaspur organised a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office at Gurdaspur. Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) state secretariat member Ranbir Singh Virk, its Batala tehsil secretary Mohinder Singh, and its Gurdaspur tehsil secretary Mohan Singh addressed the gathering.

PATHANKOT: The dharna organised in front of the deputy commissioner’s office at Pathankot by the CPI(M) district committee was addressed by district secretary Raj Kumar, Pathankot tehsil secretary Kewal Krishan Kalia and Narot tehsil secretary Harbans Lal.

SHAHID BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR: More than 700 CPI(M) workers took out a procession through the town and marched towards the deputy commissioner’s office for a demonstration there and offered themselves for arrest. But the police backed out. Com. CPI(M) state secretariat member Ram Singh Nurpuri and state committee members Maha Singh Rori and Balbir singh Jadla addressed the rally.  

MANSA: More than 600 CPI(M) workers marched in a procession through the main markets of Mansa city against the anti-people policies of the central and state governments. After reaching the deputy commissioner’s office they staged a demonstration which was addressed by CPI(M) state secretariat member Bhoop Chand Channo, its district secretary Kulwinder Singh Uddat and state committee member Swaranjit Singh Daleo.

At some places in Punjab, actions were organised on February 26 because of specific reasons.