ASHOK Dhawale, Central Committee member , CPI(M) said that the Modi – Shah duo is bent upon dividing India in the name  of religion, community, caste and region which is dangerous to the unity and integrity of the country. He was addressing a massive rally at Ropar – Punjab, on May 11. The rally had been organised in support of Raghunath Singh, CPI(M) candidate from  Sri Anandpur Sahib  constituency. He further said that CPI(M) had always worked for the unity and integrity of the nation and brotherhood among the people .

While speaking about the history of the Party he said that the Party had to make sacrifices to defend the unity and integrity of the country. On the other hand BJP is spreading communalism which is being opposed by the CPI(M) with all its strength. He quoted from the front page title of ‘Time’ magazine, which termed Modi as “ India’s divider in chief”.  Modi has shamed India in the world fraternity.  Commenting on  2014 elections, he said that people were fed up with rampant corruption of Congress and they wanted an alternative and BJP utilised the opportunity.  He explained that Modi addressed 444 election meetings and made many promises with the pet slogan of ‘achhe din’ (good days). Modi promised that within six months the government would bring back thousands of crores of black money stashed in foreign banks and assured that every citizen would get at least 15 lakh rupees in her/his account, but people could not get even 15 paise.

Ashok Dhawale informed that Modi had also promised to give employment to two crore youth every year. “What to speak of two crore jobs, one crore ten lakh people lost their jobs after demonetisation. Unemployment rate as per a report is highest in last 45 years during this period. There has been massive increase in rates of petroleum products during Modi’s period despite reduction in rates of crude oil in international market. This benefit which accrued to the people, but was not extended to them”, said Ashok Dhawale.

Ashok Dhawale mentioned the statement of Modi in which he promised that after formation of the government, he would write off the total debt  of peasants in the first meeting of the cabinet but he forgot  after coming to power. On the other hand Modi government has waived off loan/debt worth Rs 5.5 lakh crores of the corporates.  He pointed out that more than 48,000 peasants committed suicides during first four years of Modi regime. Ashok Dhawale asked the people to recall that Modi had promised to give 1.5 times  remunerative price for input cost of  crops but the government gave an affidavit in the Supreme court that it cannot implement this promise.  He appealed to the people to vote and support Raghunath Singh so that a voice of working people can reach in parliament. 

Raghunath Singh,  CPI(M) candidate from Sri  Anandpur Sahib  Lok Sabha constituency, while addressing the rally  said that our Party fights elections on the basis of policies and not on ‘jumlas’ or by personal attacks on individuals. He said that it is their duty to highlight the people’s issues. He termed Modi as a ‘jumlebaaz’ and liar who has lowered the office of the prime minister. Commenting on the promise of Congress candidate Manish Tewari   that he would make ‘Kandi’ area a heaven, Raghunath asked what he has done for Ludhiana from where he has now come to Anandpur Sahib.   He called upon the people to defeat the communal SAD – BJP combine and vote for the red flag.

Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon , state secretary, CPI(M)  while addressing the rally  said that it is our bounden duty to defeat the communal BJP – Akali alliance which is on the one hand, is dividing the country, and on the other, working for the corporates. 

More than 3,000 people from all over the constituency reached the venue of the rally in groups raising slogans in favour of Raghunath Singh and CPI(M)  with red flags. Various sections of the working people – peasants, agricultural workers, village chowkidars, toll plaza employees, anganwadi , mid day meal and ASHA workers, industrial workers  contract workers and workers of other trade unions came in large number.  

The rally was also addressed by state secretariat members, Bhup Chand Channo, Gurdarshan Singh Khaspur, Balbir Singh Jadla , Kulwinder Singh Uddat and Major Singh Bhikhiwind. Lehmber Singh Tagger , state secretariat member  conducted rally proceedings and Gurchetan Singh Bassi , presided over the rally and thanked the participants and leaders for making the rally a success.