By P.S Sahni & Shobha Aggarwal
“Ruke na jo jhuke na jo
Mite na jo dabe na jo
Hum wo inkalab hai
Julm ka jawab hai
Har garib har shahid
Ka ham he to khawab hai
Ruke na jo…’’
(1st verse in the old number from ‘Joi Bangladesh’ – a film released in 1971 in India. AAP’s Sanjay Singh and colleague sang this number.)
For the first time in five years, Delhiites were witness to a mass rally at the National Protest Site, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. About 3000 people participated. Such a large crowd we had seen at Jantar Mantar in June 2017 when people protested against Junaid Khan’s killing. Similar massive protest took place in New Delhi after Operation Blue Star when about 3000 people had assembled!
We attended yesterday’s protest in solidarity. We met two old comrades – who like us were not AAP members; both Gautam and J.P are non party activists. We also met a volunteer who – like us – had been attending Anna Hazare’s protest at Jantar Mantar. Before leaving we had tea and biscuits at our old ‘adda’ – a tea shop on Jantar Mantar pavement.
This protest and the I.N.D.I.A bloc public meeting at Ram Lila Maidan, Delhi a week earlier appear to be a harbinger of a silent wave about to sweep the B.J.P. The protesters at this gathering were relaxed; there was no fear on their faces. On the dais bhajans and revolutionary songs were sung by AAP leaders. The mood of the nation can be gauzed from the rendition of this old song:
“ruke na jo jhuke na jo…”
P.S Sahni & Shobha Aggarwal, Members, PIL Watch Group. Photographs by Shobha.
8 April 2024
Source: countercurrents.org