Lok Raj Sangathan has been organising continuous meetings in different areas of Delhi as part of its All-India campaign on the issue of Communalism and the Indian State. Meetings were held in Sanjay Colony in South Delhi on 17th October, and in Patparganj in East Delhi and in Jasola in the Jamia area on 18th October, in Madanpur Khadar in South east Delhi on 24th October and in Sangam Vihar in South Delhi on 11th October. LRS members, youth, students and workers participated in large numbers in all these meetings.
Lok Raj Sangathan has been organising continuous meetings in different areas of Delhi as part of its All-India campaign on the issue of Communalism and the Indian State. Meetings were held in Sanjay Colony in South Delhi on 17th October, and in Patparganj in East Delhi and in Jasola in the Jamia area on 18th October, in Madanpur Khadar in South east Delhi on 24th October and in Sangam Vihar in South Delhi on 11th October. LRS members, youth, students and workers participated in large numbers in all these meetings.
Meeting in Sanjay Colony
A meeting against communal violence was organised on 17th October 2015 in the central office of the Communist Ghadar Party of India in Sanjay Colony. Students of schools and colleges and working youth participated in the meeting. Many questions were raised following a presentation on the subject.
The presentation explained that the 1857 Ghadar struck a big blow at British rule. In order that such a ghadar should not take place again, the British created the Indian National Congress, the Indian Muslim League and many such institutions through which the people could be kept divided on communal lines.
The presentation made it clear that post independence in 1947, the same state that had been established by the British was preserved as it was. Thus the 1935 government of India Act got transformed into the Indian Constitution. Alongside this, the various institutions of the Indian state – the bureaucracy, police, army, courts and legislatures have been preserved on the same base of communalism. Only their names changed, but their basic outlook of suppressing the people’s rights has remained. Whatever divisions were sown by the British continue till date. It is on this basis that the bourgeois political parties keep the people divided which benefits the Indian state.
Meeting in Partparganj
Youth activists organised the meeting and presentation on 18th October 2015 in Patparganj. The members of that area, along with students and youth participated in the meeting. A resident youth activist made the presentation.
The presenters explained very clearly that communalism is an inherent part of the colonial legacy inherited by the Indian ruling class. The present Indian state was born in what was historically the most terrible bloodshed . Starting from 1947 till date, whichever party is in power, organising communal violence and massacres, providing state assistance for this to be carried out, to canvas votes and plan electoral victory on the basis of communal and casteist propaganda and division of people, to preserve an atmosphere of communalism and casteism, to target people on the basis of their views, never punishing the guilty but actually extending state protection to them – all of this has been going on in our country’s politics and we are facing the same today, again and again.
Following the presentation, comrades Kaushal and Dharmendar led an open discussion. The youth raised many questions such as, What is the state? What is socialism? How can we deal with communalism?
The discussions brought an understanding that the state is an instrument of rule of one class over another. The present state is a state of the capitalists, and its foundation was laid in 1858 by the colonisers. The state includes the bureaucracy, courts, constitution, parliament, police, army, and legislatures, the capitalist parliamentary parties, and so on. All these institutions work to preserve the capitalist state and to ensure the profits of the capitalists. They are not accountable to the people. The workers and toilers produce the country’s wealth which is appropriated by the capitalists who keep accumulating more wealth.
It was explained that in 1917, the Bolshevik Party in Russia led the workers and peasants to bring about a proletarian revolution. A proletarian state was established. The wealth created in a socialist state is spent on the people. The institutions that are established to administer this state are accountable to the people. The state is responsible for guaranteeing the prosperity and security of the people.
The youth who participated in the meeting declared that they had learnt so many lessons through this that they never learn in the schools and colleges.
Meeting in Jasola village
The Lok Raj Samiti of Jasola village organised a meeting among the youth on 18th October. People participated very enthusiastically in the meeting.
Comrades Poonam and Surkhi from Lok Raj made the presentation. Most of the participants of this meeting were students. The presentation explained that the first census in the country was carried out in 1871, and this was carried out on a communal basis. The real intent was to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims. When India became independent in 1947, it was divided into India and Pakistan on a communal basis. Both these countries were led by political parties created by the British – the Congress Party and the Muslim League.
The presentation explained that Indian revolutionaries were preparing for revolution despite facing brutal colonial rule. The Hindustan Ghadar Party organised a revolution to free the country from the British. This Ghadar gave a big jolt to the British Rule and the state in England, and reminded them of the 1857 ghadar. The Indian revolutionaries established the Hindustan Republican Association and challenged the British Rule and gave the slogan of socialism.
Following the presentation, the youth expressed their views and raised several questions. They were very enthused with what they had learnt in the course of the meeting. They talked about taking the issue among the people.
Meeting in Madanpur Khadar
A meeting and presentation on communalism was organised in the resettlement colony of Madanpur Khadar on 24th October. Workers, post their working day, and students, post their lessons, took part in the meeting. Many activists of the Communist Ghadar Party of India and several social activists also participated in the meeting.
All the participants were waiting eagerly for the presentation to start. Comrade Santosh made the presentation. it was explained that starting from 1947 till date the Indian state has organised communal violence to suppress the struggles of the workers and peasants. These massacres have happened during all governments of the capitalist parties notwithstanding that a government is that of the so-called secular or communal party.
The presenter explained that communal violence of the British rule and that of the Indian government is part and parcel of their rule. It is embedded in this capitalist rule. Dividing people on the basis of religion and caste is the preferred policy of the Indian state.
The participants were surprised to be informed that the Indian constitution and state have been established on a communal basis. They said that they had never been provided such factual information.
Meeting in Sangam Vihar
A meeting was organised on 11th October in Sangam Vihar in South Delhi. Many students of schools and colleges and working class people participated enthusiastically in the meeting. An activist of the Hind Naujavan Ekta Sabha made the presentation.
The transition of power from British Rulers to the Indian rulers of today was illustated using the medium of film in a very attractive way to explain the issue.The presenter tabled the truth about communalism and the real meaning of freedom through clippings from the film on Bhagat Singh. The youth were very impressed by this. The truth about the 1857 ghadar was also presented.
After the presentation, the youth expressed their astonishment that the atrocities and plunder of the present rulers is so similar to that of the British rulers. They realised that the colonial rulers and the Indian rulers who followed them had hatched such a terrible conspiracy to vest state power fully in the hands of the capitalists. They also understood now, they said, that capitalism is the root cause of our poverty and lack of education.
The youth understood that communalism is an inherent part of this system, which the colonisers established and which has continued after independence. There is only one solution to end communalism – the renewal of India. Rule of workers and peasants has to be established through revolution and state power has to be vested in the people – this is the renewal of India.