Punjab: Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s Death Anniversary Observed
RL Moudgil
ON August 1, 2023, a programme was held at Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna Bhawan in Chandigarh, to pay tributes to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet on his 15th death anniversary. Md. Salim, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and West Bengal state secretary, attended the programme as the chief guest. Salim praised Comrade Surjeet's remarkable efforts in preventing the communal BJP from forming a government at the centre by mobilising secular and democratic forces on many occasions. He expressed how Comrade Surjeet's absence is deeply felt, especially in the current situation when the country is confronted with serious challenges posed by the communal BJP and fascist RSS.
Speaking about the Manipur situation, Salim highlighted the disturbing incident where two women were paraded naked, numerous rapes occurred, and houses were burnt, with no FIRs registered for days. He warned that similar incidents, like the communal clashes in Nuh, Haryana, might be orchestrated in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to further polarise people along religious lines.
Emphasizing the essence of unity in diversity, Salim called upon every secular and democratic citizen to celebrate the inclusiveness of India, where despite different languages, clothing, food habits, and climates, people stand united from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. He stressed that "I.N.D.I.A." stands for inclusiveness of every religion, every region, and every caste.
Salim cautioned against the dangerous alliance of corporates and fascist RSS, which is detrimental to the nation. He cited instances of public assets such as airports, banks, insurance, postal services, telecom, and railways being sold to the cronies of the Modi/RSS government. Modi government is pushing crucial issues like healthcare, education, unemployment, and housing to the background while promoting communal polarisation. He asserted that the so-called propaganda of double engine governments has been exposed, referring to Manipur and Nuh as examples where the government's failure in addressing the problems and divisive agendas were evident.
Salim commended the people of Punjab for upholding communal harmony during challenging times, even when faced with provocations from Khalistanis and RSS attempts to polarise the people.
Pawan Kumar Bansal, former railway minister, paid tribute to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, saying that Comrade Surjeet stood like a rock against separatist forces during the Khalistani movement in Punjab. He praised Surjeet for earning respect not only within his own party but also among members of other political parties, a rare phenomenon. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, former central minister, described Surjeet as a humble individual and shared instances from his tenure when foreign dignitaries like Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, and Fidel Castro told the government that they would meet Comrade Surjeet, whether protocol permits or not.
Bant Brar, state secretary of CPI, highlighted Surjeet's remarkable leadership, uniting various shades of political parties together against communal and fascist forces. Brar criticised the present regime citing the ongoing turmoil in Manipur and other instances under Modi's government.
Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon expressed gratitude for the overwhelming attendance at the gathering, with the auditorium filled to capacity and even accommodating 100 extra chairs for the participants. He announced that the school that had once removed Comrade Surjeet from its rolls for his involvement in freedom movement activities has now been renamed as Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet Senior Secondary School. Similarly, a road from Bara Pind from where Surjeet became an MLA, to Jandiala has been named after him. Sekhon urged the Punjab government to allocate one acre of land from the old DC Office for the construction of a fitting memorial there, where Surjeet had unfurled the National Flag by removing the Union Jack. A resolution to this effect was also passed during the programme, which was presided over by Bhup Chand Channo and Major Singh Bikhiwind, with Gurdarshan Singh Khaspur conducting the stage proceedings.
