Protest against Modi Government’s Undeclared Emergency

THE CPI(ML) held a ‘Democracy-Freedom March’ in Lucknow on 26 June 2019, marking the day Indira Gandhi’s Emergency was imposed in 1975. The march proceeded from Parivartan Chowk to GPO and culminated in a meeting at the Gandhi Statue.

Speakers at the meeting said that 26 June is marked in history as Indira Emergency Day and the Emergency that was imposed in 1975. The entire past 5 years of Modi rule was an undeclared Emergency which continues in Modi 2.0 as well. Every voice of dissent is not only being crushed but political-social workers are being arrested, thrown in jail, and even killed. The country’s renowned social workers Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao are still in jail and activists like Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha are out of jail only due to enormous public pressure.

The freedom of the Press and Television has been snatched away, journalists are being thrown in jail and people like Ravish are receiving threats. Institutions like the Supreme Court, CBI and RBI have been compromised and co-opted. There is talk of changing the Constitution. Dalits and Muslims are being killed in incidents of mob lynching. The incident in Jharkhand where Tabrez Ansari was lynched and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is witness to the fact that the politics of hate and fear and saffron goondaism continue unabated in the 2nd edition of Modi rule and there is no safety for the lives of minorities. This incident has also proved that Modi’s declaration after being in sworn in as PM for the second time that he would win everyone’s trust was a mere deception. Speakers addressing the meeting said that the CPI(ML) would at all costs fight with all its strength against this undeclared Emergency and these all-round attacks on the Constitution.

The meeting was addressed by CPI(ML) District in-charge Ramesh Singh Sengar, State Committee member Radheshyam Maurya, AIPWA District Convener Comrade Meena, Jan Sanskriti Manch State acting President Kaushal Kishore, AISA leader Shiva Rajwar, RYA leader Rajiv, AICCTU leader Madhusudan Magan, and others.
Earlier, the activists led by the District in-charge and holding red flags and placards held a march starting from Parivartan Chowk, going through the Press Club, Family Court and Lal Bagh and culminating in the meeting at the Gandhi Statue.

Present at the march and meeting were Construction Workers Union leader Manju Gautam, Ramsewak Rawat, Naumi Lal, Ramesh Shrma, Samedas, Kamlesh Gautam, Kamla Gautam, Shanti, Malti, Dori Lal, AISA leaders Atul, Nitin Raj, Rustam Qureshi and others.