THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) Delhi-NCR, and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), commemorated the 69th death anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar as a day of resistance against the combined evils of manuvad, communalism, and capitalism.

Public meetings were held across working-class localities in Delhi to mark the occasion. These programmes highlighted the increasing assaults on dalits, minorities, adivasis, and the broader working class by the united force of capitalism and sectarianism. The gatherings called for the creation of a strong, unified opposition to combat these challenges.

Speakers highlighted Dr Ambedkar’s monumental contributions to the lives of dalits and working-class communities. They spoke of his opposition to religious extremism and exploitation rooted in manuvadi interpretations of Hinduism. Dr Ambedkar’s efforts to organise the working class through the Independent Labour Party and other initiatives were recalled, as were his relentless efforts to ensure equality through the Hindu Code Bill and the Constitution.

The deliberate choice of December 6 by the RSS and BJP for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 was condemned as an attempt to undermine Dr Ambedkar’s legacy and divide the working class along religious lines. Speakers emphasized the need to resist this “sinister move” by reclaiming December 6 as a day to promote unity and oppose hate and superstition.

Participants resolved to resist attempts by the RSS-BJP to divide communities and vowed to protect the Constitution from the growing attacks under the Narendra Modi-led government. They vowed to build a strong movement against capitalism and for a future rooted in equality, justice, and fraternity, values central to Dr Ambedkar’s vision.

Programmes across Delhi-NCR were held in Ghaziabad, Karol Bagh, Sonia Vihar, Sagarpur, and Jahangirpuri. At Sonia Vihar, Jana Natya Manch (JANAM) performed its new play, “Ek Berojgar Ki Adhuri Prem Kahani”, focusing on the growing unemployment crisis among educated youth.

The observance of Dr. Ambedkar’s death anniversary reaffirmed his enduring relevance in the fight against social and economic oppression. The programmes underscored the need to prioritise issues affecting marginalised communities and counteract the divisive agenda of communal forces, championing a united struggle for equality and justice.