India: Resist the Menace of Communal Fascism by Harsh Thakor

This article expresses the personal views of Harsh Thakor

Only by organizing  a powerful revolutionary movement can Communal fascistic reaction be defeated  forces like the Hindu Sangh Parivar which receive the indirect patronage of the state.

Revolutionary forces have to learn lessons from the struggle initiated by Bhagat Singh and his Naujwan Bharat Sabha in the 1930-s to link the revolutionary movement of the workers and the peasants in uniting people from all religions not just supporting the Gandhian variety of communal brotherhood.

Never forget that it was Gandhi himself who was one of the founding members of the Hindu Mahasabha.

We must never forget how past Congress regimes have used communalism to rule and Divide like when the communal riots took place in Bhiwandi in 1984 or in 1970.

The Shiv Sena formed in 1968 was a creature of the Congress formed to defeat the Communist trade Unions.

The sufferers were again the Muslim community who were offered no police protection.

Some creditable work was done by revolutionary groups but the author noticed an economist trend amongst revolutionaries who could not politically educate workers in building anti-communal revolutionary resistance.

Over 2 decades back some significant anti-communal posters were brought about by Lok Shahi Hakk Sanghatana in Mumbai.stressing on the unity of the working class struggle.

Today we have launch a vociferous campaign against the fascistic Hindu fascistic intellectuals patronized by the ruling classes who harp that the Muslims are a pampered minority.

It is similar to the Nazi propaganda in Germany.Democratic organizations like the Peoples Union of Democratic Rights in Delhi or Democratic Students Union have consistently brought out reports depicting the horrendous plight of the Muslims and the barbaric oppression they are subjected to.

What is needed is the building of revolutionary mass platforms to offer mass revolutionary resistance against Hindu communalism.

We mus be able to apply the weapon of  MLM to confront the fascistic communal forces.

The author was a part of an anti-communal front sponsored by Muslim Bohra reformer Asghar Ali Engineer called 'Ekta Samiti'

However this front advocated communal brotherhood of the Gandhian type and hardly advocated revolutionary working class combat against communalism.

I noticed a trend of revolutionary groups trailing behind the revisionism parties like C.P.I.or C.P.M and unable to offer revolutionary resistance to Hindu communalism.

The author felt that the cadres of the left parties like C.P.I. and C.P.M. were secular and had those parties  seriously done their work they could have created a bulwark in thwarting the communal -fascistic forces.

Instead they pursued their electoral gains and thus promoted reformism.

Today revolutionaries have to guard against reformist trends of combating communalism.

We must recollect how during the 1993 riots joint teams of workers defending secularism through forming defence commitees. 

In 1993 significant joint front programmes took place by organizations in Mumbai within the revolutionary camp in confronting communal forces.

Even organizations not supporting the Maoist trend ,including Gandhian cadres  have an important role to play.

Personally I feel M.K.Gandhi would have condemned the demolition of the Babri Masjid or the Godra riots and fasted against the rioting.

However he in the formative stages of the Ram-janmabhoomi movement he would have offered patronage to Hindu commmunal organizations and opposed working - class resistance confronting it.

However we must be aware of the danger of  soft-pedalling with Minority or Muslim fundamentalism

While wholly recognizing the repression on the Muslim minority community we must guard against blindly siding with religious organizations.

Arguably there was tendency to support minority communalism by sections of the revolutionary camp in the 1990's.

Today the left parties like C.P.I. or C.P.M. do not have any agenda to confront the ideology or programme of the Hindu communal fascist forces and merely preach communal harmony.

Only forces like the C.P.I.(Maoist), C.P.R.C.I. (M.L.), C.P.I.(M.L.) New Democracy and to a certain extent Liberation, S.U.C.I. and Red Star groups are critical of the ruling Government.

What was heartening today was joint protest in the capital of Delhi against the Babri Masjid demolition and a cultural programme later by the Revolutionary Cultural Front in J.N.U.testifies that the flame has not extinguished from the hearts of the workers or students.

Several programmes of joint fronts of secular mass organizations have taken place in the Capital explaining  the nexus between the antidemocratic policies of the ruling govt and communalism.

Revolutionaries must demarcate from the trend of revisionist parties that organize rallies supporting communal brotherhood but are not critical enough on state repression on the Muslim minorities nor on the role of the Congress in patronizing the Babri Masjid event.

They hardly expose the connivance of the then Congress govt with the Hindu fascistic Sangh Parivar forces.

A healthy trend was the secular feeling amongst the youth during the riots and the anger in their hearts against the perpetrators of communal riots.

Joint fronts of progressive or revolutionary groups came together comprising of large sections of the youth in Mumbai.

Today in Delhi some significant work has been done by the Democratic Students Union in politically exposing Hindu Communal fascism and it's connection to socio-economic conditions and political repression.

Significant work can be  done by activists of the Bigul Mazdoor Dasta  in educating  politically conscious workers on opposing and confronting commmunal forces.

Significant work has been done by the youth organization Naujwan Bharat Sabha in countering communal propoganda in Bastis of Delhi.

Today the Rahul Foundation or Janchetna publishing house has an important role to play in publishing  literature for children  which eradicate communal ideas propogated in the education system.

The revolutionary students organizations must imbibe the lessons of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in countering communalism.

Dalit organizations have to brought in to the anti-communal movement explaining the nexus between casteism and communalism with the repressive socio-economic political system.

A separate anti-commmunal front must be built comprising organizations of the revolutionary camp  to confront the menace of communal fascism.

A controversial issue was whether "Re-build the Babri Masjid on the same site of destruction' slogan,used by Democratic Students Union should be deployed and is relevant even today.

This is a reply a got from a revolutionary sympathizer and advocate Sudeep from Punjab

"Harsh, I have not thought about it. But your question brings to my mind fate of several historic Gurudwaras destroyed and converted into temples during 84 riots - like one was in Haridwar and several other places. 

Similarly several Churches and Mosques have been destroyed and converted into temples.

One RSS guy has recently claimed in a news some days before that they have converted about 60 Churches in UP. 



So may be we should think about phenomenon not a single isolated incident. 

Practically no one is going to restore Mosque there I think it is a symbolic demand - we know that it will be a "Bhavya" temple there.


But on the other side Sikhs destroyed several Mosques during 47 riots in this part of Punjab but now, you may call it some sort of repentance - people, Non-Muslims, have restored Mosques at many places.



However, from the legal aspect - it is evident that Babri had been there for several hundred years and it has been destroyed illegally and forcibly so it should be restored but our courts have deserted what law of land states and have gave in to communal pressure."


On December 6th,this year  a historic rally in the capital of Delhi from Mandi house to Jantar mantar was held in rage of the tragic demolition of the Babri Masjid. 

It represented a huge range of ideological trends from Marxist to Muslim organizations.

The speakers all expressed unanimity on condemning the forces of Hindu communal fascism and the state's endorsing of it.

Every speaker confirmed that today the Narendra Modi led B.J.P. govt is sharpening the tentacles of Hindutva and aggravating the condition of minorities further.

For the first time in 22 years Muslim organizations came together in such a rally.

I felt this rally was of historic importance when 17 organizations came together in memory of the destruction of the Babri Masjid.on December 6th.

The very unity of forces was significant representing a huge range of ideologies.

The convenor of this march was the Lok Raj Sanghatna.

There was also a significant speech from the Bigul Mazdur Dasta by Shivani.


New Delhi: 6th Dec. On the 22nd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri masjid, a large number of political, social, cultural and human rights organizations came together and organized an strong protest march-cum-public meeting participated by thousands of people from different religions and ideologies on at Janatar Mantar of Delhi.

People started gathering at Mandi House at 11 AM and marched towards Jantar Mantar holding banners, playcards and militantly shouting slogans demanding punishment to culprits and all the way. Reaching Jantar Mantar the march converted into the public meeting at 1:00 PM.

The meeting was inaugurated by Shri S Raghavan (President, Lok Raj Sangathan) who called upon all to unite against the state terrorism and took forward the struggle for a just and equitable society which will ensure happiness and prosperity for all. He hailed the rally as a living example of “An attack on one is an attack on all!” Lokraj Sangthan was the convener of this protest.

Addressing the gathering Akhlaq Ahmad, National Coordinator of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) said, “It is utter shame that the culprits of Babri Masjid demolition who supposed to be behind the bars are ruling the nation at present and getting Z Plus security by using the funds of the people of India. No solution could bring peace except rebuilding Babri Masjid on the same site on the state expenses. It will be the only justice in this matter.”

He reiterated that the struggle of rebuilding Babri Masjid is not limited to just Muslims but it is the responsibility of 125 crore peoples of India for strengthening the constitutional values and for the establishment of justice assured in the constitution of India.

The others who addressed the meeting were A Sayeed of SDPI,Santosh Rai of CPI (ML) Liberation, Mohammed Ahmed of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Prakash Rao of Communist Ghadar Party of India, Harminder Singh of Sikh Youth Forum, Maulana Uslam Baig of Popular Front of India, Advocate N D Pancholi of Citizens for Democracy, S Q R Ilyas of Wefare Party of India, Kavita Krishnan of All India Progressive Women Association, Professor Siddhantkar of CPIML (New Proletarian), Umar Khalid of Democratic Student Union, Anwar-ul-Islam of All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat, R K Sharma of SUCI (Communist),  Khalid Khan of Campus Friend of India, Renu Nayak of Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Shivani of Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, P K Sahi of AIFTU (New), Shweta of AISA, Professor Narendra Sharma of CPDRS, M. Hasnen of Kaumi Party of India, Ishan of DSF, Arvind of Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Nagendra of Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra, Rohit of Left Collective,Adv Shahid of Uninted Muslim front and others.

Speakers unanimously condemned the demolition of the Babri masjid for which they held both the BJP and the Congress party responsible. They denounced the Indian state’s policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ which has consistently been practiced, regardless of whichever party has been in power, to repeatedly smash the unity of our people in their struggle for justice. They pointed out that it is the system which is responsible for allowing such genocidal and monstrous crimes against our people to go unpunished; their perpetrators continue to hold high positions in the government and the state.

Revolutionary songs were presented by Nishant Natya Manch, Sangwari Jan Sanskriti Manch and Revolutionary Cultural Front JNU etc .during the public meeting concluded at 4:30 PM at the evening.

MORE THAN 30 ORGANIZATIONS FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO DEMAND ACTION AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON INDIAN DEMOCRACY AND SECULARISM

Mahmood Asim

NEW DELHI - More than 30 organizations put up a united demonstration at Jantar Mantar on the 22nd anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition on Saturday, December 6.

The united march began from Mandi House that culminated at Jantar Mantar, where representatives of several organizations and other civil rights activists spoke for justice. The speakers termed the demolition as a blot on the face of the country and attack on the democratic values of the country, its constitution and communal harmony.

Several Left affiliated groups besides the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Association for Protection Civil Rights, Welfare Party of India and Lok Raj Sangathan took part in the protest.

The high point of the demonstration was that it comprised members of all communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, besides Muslims.

Protesters, majority of whom were youth, and a large number of them women voiced their anger and demanded that the culprits found guilty by the Lieberhan Commission be brought to justice.

Siddhartha of CPIM(L) said that the martyrdom of the Babri Mosque will not go waste.

S. Raghawan, President of Lok Raj, an umbrella organization of the protesters, described the incident of 6th December as heinous, adding that “attack on one is attack on all”.

Advocate Shahid of United Muslim Front criticized the role of judiciary and reminded that even the Apex Court was unable to prevent the demolition.

One of the protesters belonging to Sikh community Jaspal Singh of Akal Takht said that the Ayodhya outrage was an act against all humanity and not against any single religion.

Referring to the several plots of terror or atrocities against people of other faiths carried out by different Hindutva organizations, he added, “They attack Gurudwaras, churches and mosques and claim that only Hindus can live in this country which is absurd”.

Representing Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at the event, Secretary Mohammad Ahmed and Assistant Secretary Intezar Naeem addressed the massive gathering.

Mohammad Ahmad began by demanding the implementation of the Lieberhan Commission report and wanted to know if the government didn’t have any intention of implementing the report why it set up the commission. He said, “Without justice, no country and its governance runs smoothly and same is the case with India”.

Prakash Roy of Communist Ghadar party declared, “Not only rebuilding of Babri Masjid but we demand to rebuild the whole nation from this platform,” adding, “Rulers have to follow Raj Dharma beyond their personal faith”.

Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas of Welfare Party of India also addressed the gathering. He said that Congress is equally responsible for demolition as BJP. “It was attack on democracy, constitution of India and judiciary at a same time,” he said.

Maulana Usman of Popular Front said they will continue their struggle throughout the year.

Sikh youth Forum , JNUSU, AISA, DSU , DSF,Citizen for Democracy, Socialist Democratic Party of India, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawrat, All India Imams Council, AIPWA, Progami Mahila Sanghtan,Mazdoor Ekta Commiittee,People Movement against UAPA, Nishant Natya Manch, Left Collective, Hind Nawjwan Ekta Sabha, APCR and All India Milli Council were organizations that held the joint protest. — TwoCircles.net


A very significant speech was made by comrade Shivani of Bigul Mazdoor Dasta highlighting how