ON the occasion of 7th death anniversary of Harkishan Singh Surjeet, a programme was organised at Bundala Manjhki in Punjab's Jalandhar on September 21. The gathering was addressed by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury among others. At the meeting, Yechury expressed fear that the BJP under Prime minister Narendra Modi might use fundamentalist and divisive tactics in the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections to garner Hindu votes. "The BJP for its own interests is trying hard to divide the people on caste and communal lines ever since the Narendra Modi government assumed office at the Centre," he said. For furthering their communal agenda, BJP ministers and MPs like Giriraj Singh, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Yogi Adityanath are now in the forefront to spew venom. The 21st Party Congress of CPI(M) called for the observance of the birth centenary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, one of the Navaratnas who founded our Party during the year culminating on March 23, 2016. Yechury said various programmes like an international seminar, drive against drug addiction, and awareness campaign about freedom movement are being organised as part of the centenary celebrations. The Party will also open drug de-addiction centres. Recalling contribution and role of Comrade Surjeet in India’s freedom struggle, Yechury said that he was a fearless freedom fighter and patriot who removed the Union Jack from Hoshiarpur Collector’s office at a tender age of 16 and remained in jail for many years. "He played a vital role in the fight against militancy in Punjab and the CPI(M) sacrificed more than 200 comrades in defence of the people and the nation," he said. Expressing serious concern over the increasing economic gap between the rich and the poor in the country due to the policies of liberalisation and globalisation, Yechury called for united struggle against the anti-people policies of the NDA government at the Centre and in the state. CPI(M) Pujnab state secretary Charan Singh Virdi, Central Committee member Vijay Misra, State Secretariat member Raghunath Singh State, CPI state secretary Hardev Arshi, and Akali Dal leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia were among those who addressed the gathering. CPI(M) State Secretariat member Gurchetan Singh Bassi presided over the function. A large number of young comrades received Yechury on the outskirts of Jandiala village and from there reached the venue of the function in a motorcycle rally. (END)