In a bid to counter the “Bharatiya Janata Party’s propaganda on nationalism” the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), for the first time, will hold a nationwide programme called samagrik jagaran (mass awakening) to celebrate Independence Day.
The CITU, the labour wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), will organise overnight demonstrations against the BJP-led government at the Centre on August 14.
According to the CITU leadership, samagrik jagaran is aimed at highlighting how the “dreams of freedom fighters and values of Independence have been left unfulfilled by the Centre.” The protest demonstrations will start around 5 p.m. on August 14 and continue till 5 a.m. on August 15. It will conclude with the CITU workers hoisting the national flag.
“The national flag is not a property of the Centre. It belongs to the entire nation. Even as the BJP is indulging in propaganda on nationalism, its activities are harming the country. Our programme is aimed at building public opinion against this along with other issues plaguing the country,” Tapan Sen, CITU’s national general secretary, told The Hindu .
He further alleged that the Centre was “pushing the country towards de-industrialisation in the name of ‘Make in India’ and the basic values of Independence is being jeopardised along with the constitutional values of equality and secularism.”
CITU leaders further accused BJP of “raising a hue and cry about nationalism to divert people’s attention from the failure of the Centre.”
The CITU State leadership will hold samagrik jagaran in central Kolkata. However, they are yet to get permission from the police regarding the venue. “We have sought permission from police to hold the protest in Central Kolkata. Police is yet to grant us permission,” Subhash Mukherjee, CITU State president said.
However, the CITU leadership confirmed that there will not be any flag hoisting at their offices this year also on Independence Day. “We don’t hoist flag in our offices on Independence Day because we feel Independence Day celebration is a collective matter and we celebrate it with the people,” said Mr. Sen.
The BJP leadership scoffed at CITU’s proposed program. “BJP does not need any certificate from anyone except the people. CITU is doing such things to save its existence. It’s their Astitwa Bachao Karyakram (program to save ones existence),” said Kailash Vijayvargiya, national general secretary of BJP.
