Observe March 6 as National Unity Day -- Left Parties

Date: 
Thursday, February 28, 2002

Press Statement

The Left parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Forward Bloc have issued the following statement after meeting on February 27 to discuss the Ayodhya situation:

                                                Stop VHP's Disruptive Activities:

                                             Observe 6th March as National Unity Day

A serious situation has been created with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's mobilisation of people to go to Ayodhya to participate in its call for construction of the temple from March 15. Already a large number of people have congregated at Ayodhya where the VHP has set up a camp to accommodate them.

The VHP is sticking to its decision to transport construction materials and formally begin construction on March 15 illegally. The all-parties meeting called by the Prime Minister, expressed serious concern at this development. Most of the parties wanted the Central government to immediately intervene and stop the mobilisation of people at Ayodhya which could lead to a dangerous situation reminiscent of what happened in December 1992.

The Gujarat government has been extending all facilities to help the mobilisation of people from that state. To call the gathering at Ayodhya a religious congregation is a misnomer, for it is being done to promote a patently illegal act of construction violating the court orders. Already the movement of the so-called karsevaks has resulted in some incidents and tensions, the most disturbing and shocking one being at Godhra.

It is not sufficient for the Vajpayee government to say that it will maintain the status quo and that no construction will be allowed at the disputed site or the land which has been acquired and vested with the Central Government. It is the responsibility of the Central Government to see that a large crowd is not gathered at Ayodhya. We call upon the Central Government to immediately take steps to stop the VHP's mobilisation at Ayodhya. For this effective administrative measures must be taken including imposition of prohibitory orders.

Uttar Pradesh does not have a popularly elected government at present and the administration is being looked after by the caretaker regime headed by Rajnath Singh. It is, therefore, all the more incumbent upon the Central Government to direct the state administration to take effective measures and provide all help to them. The country cannot afford to experience another disruptive event in Ayodhya which will have serious repercussions for national unity.

Taking the seriousness of the situation into account, we have decided to give a joint call for observing March 6 as a Day For National Unity. On that day all over the country public meetings and rallies will be held to demand that the Central Government intervene immediately to stop the VHP's mobilisation at Ayodhya and uphold the rule of the law. We appeal to all sections of people to come out in large numbers on this day and show their determination not to allow the communal forces to succeed in their gameplan. We must protect national unity and communal amity.

(Harkishan Singh Surjeet)      (A. B. Bardhan)
General Secretary, CPI(M)       General Secretary, CPI
K. Pankajakshan           Debabrata Biswas,
General Secretary, RSP   General Secretary, F.B