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Surjeet was a great patriot and freedom fighter: Manmohan

— Photo: V. Sudershan

Paying tributes: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat during a meeting to pay homage to CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: A galaxy of political leaders on Friday paid glowing tributes to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, describing him as a towering leader who fought relentlessly against communalism, keeping India united.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Surjeet as a “great patriot and freedom fighter” who worked tirelessly for preserving the unity and integrity of India.

Speaking at a condolence meeting organised here by the CPI(M), Dr. Singh said that at the young age of 15, Surjeet held the national tricolour afloat and was inspired by revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh.

The solemn occasion brought the Left leaders and the Prime Minister together for the first time after the four Left parties withdrew support to the Congress-led UPA government last month.

Recalling that Surjeet had been jailed several times during the British rule, Dr. Singh said: “One can have differences with the leaders of the Left parties but the quest for social justice unites many Indians. He had fought for removing poverty, hunger and disease and this was his burning desire.”

Dr. Singh said Surjeet was aware of political compulsions, but took a “pragmatic view” modernising a backward economy and nation. The CPI(M) veteran saw practical possibilities of bringing together people of diverse perceptions and did it successfully.

Recalling his meeting with Surjeet in the 1980s during his tenure as Reserve Bank of India Governor, Dr. Singh told the gathering: “I thought he was coming to discuss financial matters and those relating to RBI with me and had prepared myself for it. But he discussed the crisis in Punjab. He said that nothing should be done to harm the unity and integrity of the country. He also took a holistic view of the developments in Jammu and Kashmir and also of the Assam accord.”

Dr. Singh said Surjeet always fought for the causes of the poor and the downtrodden and added that in his death the people lost their messiah. “He never lost sight of the fact that India is a country of great contradictions and diversities and he did nothing to encourage communal forces and those who promote casteist feelings.” The best tribute to Surjeet would be to stay faithful to his “ideas and ideals” which inspired his life and works, Dr. Singh said.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the more than seven-decades-long career of Mr. Surjeet was dotted with hardships and shaping up struggles of farmers and workers.

Paying rich tributes to his contribution in developing and putting in practice Marxism in Indian conditions, Mr. Karat said Surjeet always fought against forces of separatism and communalism. Recalling Surjeet’s opposition to the separatist movement of Khalistan in Punjab during the 1980s, Mr. Karat said he always defended and worked for strengthening democratic values.

“As Communist leader and general secretary of the CPI(M), Surjeet became the authorised voice of democracy and secularism, a voice which was well respected and guided our path and of those who sought his views and advice,” Mr. Karat said.

Describing him as a “front ranking leader” of the freedom struggle and the Communist movement, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Surjeet was firmly committed to his ideology and principles.

“In his death, the country has lost not only a front-ranking leader of the Communist movement and the working class, but also a great protagonist of secularism, a relentless fighter against communalism, imperialism and obscurantism,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

He said Surjeet was a visionary and architect of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition in May 2004 and had a clear perception of the issues of national interest.

Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan said Surjeet was a dedicated soldier of the freedom struggle and guiding light of the Communist movement. “He always fiercely opposed communal forces and the best tribute to him would be to take a pledge for defending national unity, integrity and fighting communal forces,” he said.

T.R. Baalu [DMK], Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, T.J. Chandrachoodan of the RSP and Ramgopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party paid rich tributes to the departed CPI(M) leader. Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati could not make it owing to her engagements in Lucknow, but she sent a message.

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