Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 4

The Punjab State Council of the CPI will hold on June 4 an “anti-police repression rally” at Khanpur (Kharar).

A press note issued by the party said the decision to hold the rally was taken in view of the sentiments of the people because June 6 falls on the jayanti of Saint Kabir. The Saint Kabir jayanti was celebrated by those who believed in his teachings of humanism, oneness and equal rights to all people. This was the day when the oppressed people like Dalits raised their voice against all types of oppression. The social oppression, the press note said, committed against the oppressed. The aim of the rally was to highlight to rouse the conscience of the people to fight it back so that everybody had equal rights of living.

The Khanpur episode was neither the beginning nor the end of the growing police atrocities in the state. The stark reality was that the SAD-BJP government was encouraging those who were indulging in heinous crimes against Dalits.

All the right-thinking people, the press note added, had to come together to end such a shameful situation so that the law of jungle did not replace the law of land.

Among those who attended the meeting of the CPI were former Minister and senior state Congress leader, Jagmohan Singh Kang, Dr Joginder Dayal state Secretary, CPI, Prof Balwant Singh, state Secretary, CPM, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary, SHSAD, Mr Darshan Lal Jethumajra of the BSP and leaders of the PSEB, roadways and PSSF employees and the Istri Sabha.