Kerala
Human Chain against CAA on Republic Day
N S Sajith
THE Left Democratic Front(LDF) will organise a human chain on January 26, 2020 in Kerala, on the 70th Republic Day of India, as part of the continuing protests against the draconian Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA). This was announced by A Vijayraghwan, convenor of LDF in Thiruvananthapuram on October 16 while deliberating on the decisions of the LDF meeting.
All persons who oppose the divisive agenda of Modi government can be a part of the human chain. As a part of widespread campaign for the human chain, the LDF will organise jathas in districts. The LDF meeting considered that the satyagraha held in Thiruvananthapuram under the leadership of chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan was a grand success. The satyagraha reflects the secular mind of the people of Kerala, he said.
The protest against CAA will continue and a jansabha (mass meeting) will be organised on December 19, in district headquarters.
The joint satyagraha was held under the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan and Ramesh Chennithala, leader of the opposition in Kerala assembly on October 16. Together they along with thousands of supporters jointly held a massive satyagraha before the martyrs column in Palayam in the capital city of Thiruvananthapura. From the satyagraha there was a unified demand to repeal the CAA and to protect the constitutional values.
Pinarayi Vijayan said that the people of Kerala have given a strong verdict against the CAA and they feel that this draconian legislation is harmful to the values of equality, secularism entrusted in the Indian Constitution. Cultural leaders, writers, artists and many others attended the satyagraha.
The law passed by the both houses of parliament, under the pressure of Sangh Parivar, created chaos and protests in various parts of our country. The people of country are being compartmentalised. Kerala government already clarified its position that this anti- constitutional law will not be implemented in the state. The satyagraha has reflected this stand, Pinarayi added.
TAMIL NADU: CPI(M) Protests against the CAA
VB Ganesan
THE Tamil Nadu state committee of CPI(M) has organised an all-party demonstration in Chennai on December 16 against the draconian Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA), which is dividing the people of the country on the basis of religion.
Party state secretary K Balakrishnan presided over the demonstration. He said, “The Modi-Shah regime is working against the constitution of India. Article 14 ensures equality before law and Article 15 says that there should be no discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, caste, sex and place of birth. The BJP government is breaking the very backbone of the country by dividing the citizens in the name of religion.”
He further added, “The BJP government was not even ready to consider the amendments proposed by the opposition. The bill specifically mentioned only three countries and left out countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar. This time the BJP has targeted one particular religion and we are very concerned about its future plans which may lead to marginalisation of other minority religious groups.”
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member G Ramakrishnan said that this convergence of people against this Act will prove that the evil design of the Sangh Parivar to move towards Hindu Rashtra will not succeed.
DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi said that this Act was brought upon only to divert the attention of the people from serious issues like the collapse of the economy, unemployment, farmers loans etc.
Gopanna, the media head of Congress said that people of the country will never allow such an Act which is dividing the people on the basis of religion.
CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said that they shall take forward this movement to the people to expose the sinister design of RSS Sangh Parivar as well as AIADMK who had no qualms in supporting this Act. MDMK general secretary Vaiko said that to keep India as a united one, this Act should be stopped at any cost.
MNMK President Jawahirullah said, we cannot condone AIADMK which helped in passing the Amendment Bill into an Act. VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan said that the centre has the only agenda of declaring India as a country of Hindus, for which they are trying to subvert the constitution of the Country. Frontline editor R Vijayasankar added that the demonstration points out to the authorities that we are assembled here to fight for a united India.
Besides the above, DK vice president Kali Poongundran, senior advocates NGR Prasad, R Vaigai, social activist, A Marx and visual media journalist Jenram also addressed the gathering and expressed the condemnation of wider sections of the society against this draconian Act.
A large number of activists of SFI and DYFI courted arrest after demonstrating in many centres of the state including Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Nellai cities against this Act.
WEST BENGAL
Left Rises in Protest against CAA
THOUSANDS of people rose in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act at the call of Left parties and other mass and class organisations in West Bengal. These protest actions, peaceful but militant, were in contrast to some incidents of arson and vandalism. Numerous protest rallies and processions were organised in districts. A massive rally took place in Domkal in Murshidabad as part of the DYFI district conference which was addressed by Md Salim. Despite tensions and blockades by some other organisations, the rally witnessed a huge turnout. Another massive rally took place in Mankundu in Hooghly, as part of CITU district conference which categorically asserted that divisive attempts would be foiled by the working people. One of the most notable processions took place in Uluberia in Howrah. The rally of red flags instilled a confidence among people, and people from all walks of life participated in the rally. Md Salim was amongst other leaders who were present.
Despite rhetoric, TMC government in West Bengal was planning to allot land for two ‘detention centres’ and started training its officials for NPR preparation. These are actually part of centre’s project of CAA and NRC. The Left forces raised voice against this and started agitations. On December 16, two large rallies were organised in New Town and Bangaon, the places where these centres were planned. Both the rallies were huge in numbers. In Bangaon, Biman Basu led the rally and a massive public meeting was organised. Congress also joined in the programme. In New Town, Left legislative party leader, Sujan Chakraborty was present. The rally in New Town submitted a deputation to HIDCO (West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation) and pressed to stop any such land allotment. The state administration was forced to backtrack and it was declared that no land would be allocated. Training for NPR was also stopped.
Students and youth organised protests throughout the state. After the attack on Jamia Millia Islamia students in Delhi, students of Jadavpur University came out on the streets on the same night itself. Big demonstration took place in front of Jadavpur police station. On the next day, SFI organised protest programmes all over the state through road blockade, effigy burning, etc. DYFI-SFI took out a torchlight procession in Kolkata.
The call of the Left is clear: no to CAA, no to all India NRC, resist divisive attempts, fight to protect constitutional and secular ideals. Left leaders had called upon the people to sharpen preparation for January 8, 2020 strike to unitedly resist the attempt of division among people.
17 Left and allied parties called for a central rally against the CAA in Kolkata on December 19. The rally was called on the day of martyrdom of Ashfaqulla Khan, Ramprasad Bismil, Thakur Raushan Singh, and Rajendranath Lahiri (who was hanged on December 17) of Kakori Conspiracy Case.
Protest Demonstration in Jammu
CPI(M) Jammu committee had organised a one day protest demonstration on December 19, against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Press Club, Jammu. Hundreds of Party activists participated in the protest demonstration and were shouting slogans against this Act.
While addressing the gathering, Ghulam Nabi Malik, CPI(M) state secretary condemned the BJP government for enacting the discriminatory CAA. He said it is an attack on the secular, democratic foundations of the country. He said the working class of the country who are already battling against the aggressive neoliberal policy regime must rise to the occasion and defeat the BJP government’s machinations to divide the people and suppress their movement against economic and social exploitation and repression.
Sham Parsad Kesar, regional Secretary said that despite CAB becoming a law its implementation can be defeated by the people through united struggle at every stage and in every front. People are already on the streets in different parts of the country opposing the Act. Trade union movement must take the lead. Also, Md Yusuf Tarigami, Party leader and former MLA, was expected to attend the procession but he was prevented by police and virtually put under house arrest. CPI(M) condemned this act of administration.
Om Parkash, general secretary, state CITU, said that this Act links citizenship with the religious affiliation of an individual and aims to further sharpen the communal divide in the country which is detrimental to the unity and integrity of our country. He called upon the workers and other trade unions to unitedly launch movement to defeat implementation of BJP government’s Citizenship Amendment Act and join all other sections of the toiling masses in the countrywide democratic movement against it.
Other who spoke on this occasion included Kishore Kumar, Sewa Ram, Sohan Lal, Banarsi Dass, Raj Kumar, Muzaffar Wani, Bikal Vaid and Nishad Kazi.
