CPI-ML New Democracy, Democratic Rights, Press Release

Punjab Reacts against fascist Offensive

On 28th August, news started trickling down that houses of Gautam Navlakha in New Delhi, of Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad, Varavara Rao –Kranthi in Hyderabad, of Anand Teltumbde in Goa, Stan Swamy in Ranchi and of Vornon Gonsalves and Arun Faereira in Mumbai were encircled and were being searched. By noon it was clear that five of them, Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bhardwaj, Varvara Rao, Vornon Gonsalves and Arun Fareira had been arrested. Meanwhile Central Committee of Communist Party of India (ML) ND gave a call to protest against these arrests immediately. Following this we decided to organize protests at district headquarters on 29th August itself.

On 29th August protests were held under the banner of CPI (M-L ) ND at Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Nawan shahr and Moga. In Sangruur a protest was held by various mass organizations including AFDR, NBS, PSU and ZPSC etc. Punjab Students Union, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Krantikari BKU and Khet Mazdoor Union held a protest March in Faridkot. Punjab Students Union and DSO protested against these arrests in Punjabi University Patiala. On 30th August , Kirti Kisan Union, PSU, NBS and Democratic Mulazim Federation protested in Muktsar. On First September Kirti Kisan Union, Pendu Mazdoor Union and Inqlabi Kendra held Protest March In Jagraon, Dist. Ludhiana. AFDR and several other mass organizations had protested in Ludhiana on 30th August .

Revolutionary political parties are also planning to organize a massive protest jointly.