The Left Parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party – have issued the following joint statement on March 13.

THE Left parties have decided to observe March 23, 2020 marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev to consolidate opposition to the CAA/NPR/NRC process and to project the vision of a modern, inclusive India that Bhagat Singh wrote about, worked for and sacrificed his life.

The police under the BJP is being used to advance its communal polarisation and mount attacks on the democratic rights of the people to organise peaceful protests. The brazen attacks at Jamia Millia University, Aligarh Muslim University followed by the attack by masked goons under police protection at JNU, continued with vicious attacks in Uttar Pradesh, other BJP ruled states and in Delhi. The recent communal violence that rocked the national capital has left at least 53 (latest official count) dead with the numbers likely to increase. Hundreds have been injured. Crores of rupees of property has been looted. Worst, the victims of this violence are now being charged by the police. The Delhi police under the union home ministry played the role of a by-stander, at best, and, at times, abetting the crimes. Left parties strongly condemn this and demand a time bound judicial enquiry into this violence.

Left parties express strong opposition to the recent budget proposals. This budget, while providing greater relief and concessions to the rich and the corporates, mounts severe attacks on people’s livelihood. The budget proposes to sell away our national assets through largescale privatisation of the public sector. This budget severely undermines our economic foundations and at the same time imposes unprecedented burdens on the people increasing their misery exponentially.

All our units will jointly work out programmes in the state capitals and at district headquarters. Marches from different parts shall be organised to culminate at a central venue where political leaders, cultural personalities and activists, intellectuals and people’s movements shall hold a public meeting and a cultural programme. An oath on the enclosed pledge shall be taken at the end of the function.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party have issued the following statement on March 17.

THE five left parties had given a call for an all India protest on March 23, 2020 combining our opposition to the CAA/NPR/NRC and the budget proposals and the unprecedented economic burdens imposed by the economic recession caused by the policies of this Modi government.

In view of the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been decided that this observance will not be held in large gatherings and public meetings. The martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, however, will be observed as we traditionally observe them every year.