Hindutva goons in Himachal Pradesh assault migrant hawker for entering town near Shimla; Booked
Shimla: Four individuals have been booked for assaulting and threatening a migrant hawker in Dhami, around 30 km from Shimla, amid ongoing tensions regarding alleged illegal mosques and the rise in the number of undocumented migrants in the state.
The incident came to light after a video circulated online, showing a man demanding the hawker’s Aadhaar card. When the hawker, riding a bike, failed to produce the card, the assailant slapped him multiple times, hurling abusive language. The video further shows the accused forcing the hawker into a "murga" punishment position and threatening to kill him with a sword. The perpetrator is also heard asking his associate to fetch the weapon.
In the footage, locals are heard questioning the hawker about his return to the village after allegedly being warned to stay away.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation has been initiated. This attack comes in the wake of protests in certain parts of the state, led by Hindu organizations, against alleged illegal mosques and unidentified migrants. In September, some of these groups had urged the state government to verify the identities of migrants residing in Himachal Pradesh.
Condemning the incident, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sanjay Chauhan took to social media to denounce the attack. In his post, Chauhan called for strict legal action against the culprits and warned against the growing communal discord in the state.
"This shameful act has no place in an educated and peaceful state like Himachal Pradesh. Some elements are intentionally creating communal tensions, which is damaging the state's reputation. Incidents like these are affecting tourism and other businesses, which are vital for the livelihood of thousands of families," Chauhan stated.
The police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation into the matter.
#Dhami, Himachal Pradesh: A hindutva goon is seen assaulting a hawker for entering into village to sell goods, he can be heard saying “laa wo meri talwar is ko kaat hi dete hai aaj” in Dhami, HP few kms away from the state capital.
— Saba Khan (@ItsKhan_Saba) October 21, 2024
Either it's BJP ruled state or Congress ki… pic.twitter.com/rOgvLVsZXg
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Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
