The 63rd anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Rights by the United Nations was marked by a militant demonstration and rally in New Delhi on December 10, 2011.
The 63rd anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Rights by the United Nations was marked by a militant demonstration and rally in New Delhi on December 10, 2011.
Activists of the Communist Ghadar Party of India participated vigorously, and distributed the Statement of the Party on Human Rights to masses of people along the procession route. The rally was initiated and organised by the Lok Raj Sangathan.
The rally reflected the growing unity of our people in defence of human rights. Activists from various organisations were joined by multi-fold number of youth and students from several working class colonies. Bright banners proclaimed "Unite to oppose the violation of human rights by the Indian state!", "It is the duty of the state to guarantee human rights!", "It is the duty of the people to establisha system that guarantees human rights!", amongst other slogans.
The demonstration and rally was marked by the participation of large numbers of school children, girls and boys, who carried placards and banners with different demands, all asserting the rights of people. The demonstration started from Mandi House chowk and reached JantarMantarwhere it turned into a rally. The entire route reverberated with militantly slogans that condemned violations of human rights by the Indian State and called upon the people to unite against such violations. Other slogans demanded political power in the hands of the people and re-orientation of economy in order for it to serve the interest of the working people rather than "right" of monopoly corporations to maximize their profits. Slogans asserted that sovereignty must vest with the people, and in fact, workers, peasants, women and youth constitute India and are her real masters. Slogans also condemned the use of state terror, including draconian laws like AFSPA to suppress human rights and demanded mechanisms for enforcement of rights. Slogans condemning US imperialist aggressions on the sovereignty of peoples and nations and calling for the anti-imperialist unity of the peoples of South Asia were also vigorously raised.
Among those who particpated or addressed the public rally at Jantar Mantar were Shri S Raghavan, President, Lok Raj Sangathan, Comrade Prakash Rao, Comrade Santosh Kumar, ShriInamur Rahman of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Shri M K Safikul of the Manipur Students Association of Delhi, Comrade Jagdish of the CPI(ML), Comrade Sunil of PDFI, Shri Pushkar Raj of People's Union of Civil Liberties, Ram Rekha Prasad Gupta of New Sanjay Camp Lok Raj Samiti, Lokesh Kumar of Sanjay Colony Lok Raj Samiti, Comrade Tek Chand of the Voltas Employees Union, Comrade Atiq of Leather Workers Union, Ishwar of the Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangam. The meeting was conducted by Comrade BirjuNayak.
The meeting ended with BirjuNayak reading out a resolution which was unanimously adopted by all present at the gathering.