PEOPLE from all walks of life from many places in Punjab converged at the Girls School grounds of Bundala Manjhki (Jalandhar), native village of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, former general secretary of CPI(M) and a Communist leader of international repute to pay him tributes on his ninth death anniversary, on September 24.  Besides state leaders of CPI(M), leaders of various political parties paid their tributes to Comrade Surjeet. A large number of women participated in the meeting.

Ashok Dhawale, CPI(M) Central Secretariat member, paid floral tributes to Comrade Surjeet and unfurled the party flag.  Addressing the meeting, Dhawale recounted the 75 years long political life of Comrade Surjeet and shared his experiences while working with Comrade Surjeet.

Charan Singh Virdi, secretary of the Punjab state committee of CPI(M) expressed serious concern over the grim situation prevailing in the country due to the atmosphere of intolerance, anti-people and pro-corporate economic policies of the government. But, he said, people are also uniting in a big way and cited the unity being forged among the many mass and social organisations, the trade unions and peasants organisations.

Comrade Hardev Arsi, CPI state secretary, Chaudhary Santokh Ram, MP from Jalandhar, Pargat Singh, MLA, Jalandhar Cantt, Bibi Amanjot Kaur, daughter of S Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, ex-central minister, Vijay Misra, Raghunath Singh, Gurmesh Singh, Sukhwinder Sekhon, Ranbir Virk, Bhoop Chand, state secretariat members also addressed the meeting. Gurchetan Singh Bassi, state secretariat member presided over the meeting. Ram Singh Nurpuri, state secretariat member placed the vote of thanks. Lehmber Singh Tagger, district secretary, Jalandhar acted as stage secretary.