The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, the All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party have issued the following statement.
Observe Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14
The Left parties call upon the people of India to observe Ambedkar Jayanti by taking a pledge at 5pm on April 14, on the following issues within the confines of the lockdown restrictions.
1. Safeguarding our Constitution.
2. Demanding immediate cash transfers and distribution of food for the poor and needy who are suffering under this lockdown.
3.Strengthening the bonds of social unity of our people without any discrimination based on religion, caste, gender or disability. There cannot be any assaults on life, liberty, democratic rights or expressions of untouchability, discrimination in the name of fighting the pandemic during lockdown restrictions.
Our call is to maintain “physical distance with social solidarity” not “ social distancing”
4. We take this pledge in the spirit of Ambedkar’s exhortation to educate people against obscurantism superstition and prejudices. We pledge to extend and volunteer our support and assistance to those who need it for their survival and livelihood during the lockdown.
As public assembly or garlanding of statues will not be possible, people should take this pledge at 5pm on 14th, from wherever it’s safe and convenient.
sd/-
Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M)
D Raja, General Secretary, CPI
Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML)-Liberation
Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, AIFB
Manoj Bhattacharya, General Secretary, RSP