A public meeting commemorating the birth centenary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet was held at EZCC hall in Kolkata on September 13. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury addressing the meeting said that the actual control of the Modi government lies with the RSS.

Yechury said, the threat of majority communalism has intensified many times after the Modi government came into power. The attitude of this government towards the minorities is predisposed. The attitude of the government should be equal to all sections.

Recalling Surjeet’s immense contribution in the fight against communalism, Yechury said, his efforts made possible the formation of the UF government in 1996 when secular forces were united. Again in 2004, Surjeet took lead in keeping away the BJP from power even though the Congress got only 145 seats. Yechury said, tactics of Communists in fighting against communal forces are twofold: develop independent strength and try to weaken the force of the enemy.

He said, in West Bengal the TMC is in match fixing mode with the BJP. Through this, Mamata Banerjee is trying to shield from the CBI inquiry in the Saradha scam. On the other hand, the Left forces are advancing. In the last one month, large peoples’ struggles have been unleashed. The fight of the Left in Bengal is creating enthusiasm among the people in other states too.

Suryakanta Misra and Biman Basu also addressed the meeting. Biman Basu outlined the struggling life of Surjeet as a freedom fighter, peasant leader and one of the tallest Communist leaders of the country.

Two books were released in Bengali: one on the life of Surjeet and another authored by him on history of the Communist movement in India.