THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) of the Delhi-NCR region celebrated Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s 134th birth anniversary on April 14 at Parliament Street, Delhi, with a call to wage a united struggle against communalism and capitalism.

The programme, attended by scores of people, began with CPI(M) General Secretary, M A Baby garlanding Dr Ambedkar’s photograph. He congratulated DSMM for the initiative and emphasized the importance of fighting for social justice to strengthen working-class movements across the country. CPI(M) Polit Bureau members B V Raghavulu and R Arun Kumar also attended the programme. Hannan Mollah, leader of the All India Kisan Sabha and several other leaders of the CPI(M) Delhi state committee were also present.

The chief speaker, Brinda Karat, addressed the gathering by highlighting Dr Ambedkar’s relentless struggle against caste oppression in India. She spoke extensively about his seminal work Annihilation of Caste (1936), which exposes the systemic exploitation of India’s working and toiling masses by the Brahmanical order. The book traces the origins of the caste system, showing how it was constructed to legitimise social and economic exploitation through religious dogma.

Brinda Karat noted that the structural oppression described in Ambedkar’s writings continues in various forms today. She criticised the ruling BJP for attempting to revive the regressive Manusmriti and for glorifying figures and customs that perpetuate the oppression of the working classes and lower castes. She pointed out that the Hindutva project not only reinforces caste hierarchies but also targets women. Referring to the Hathras case, she illustrated how the rape and murder of a dalit woman, and the subsequent denial of justice, exemplify the dangers of the resurgence of Manuvadi ideology. She condemned the complicity of the police and government in protecting the perpetrators. She noted that the Manuvadi mindset seeks to make the oppressed celebrate such injustices by manufacturing newer enemies. The targeting of Muslims and the fostering of sectarian divisions are central to this broader agenda, she warned.

Jogendra Sharma, former member of the Central Committee and former state secretary of the Delhi state committee of CPI(M), also spoke on the occasion. He reiterated the call for a united struggle against Manuvad and capitalism. Describing the working-class movements for economic justice and the anti-caste movements for social justice as the "two legs of the revolution," he emphasized their equal importance in the fight to dismantle oppressive systems.

Anurag Saxena, secretary of the Delhi state committee of CPI(M) and a member of the Central Committee, also addressed the gathering. He highlighted how the RSS/BJP fosters divisions among the working classes and stressed the urgent need to unite all sections of the working class. He reminded the audience that the BJP/RSS’s calls for unity among so-called Hindus are hollow and deceptive. “There can be no unity between the oppressors and the oppressed,” he said.

Nathu Prasad, secretary of DSMM Delhi-NCR, spoke about the imperative of taking Dr Ambedkar’s ideas to the working class. He emphasized that this task requires even more rigorous effort today, as divisive and regressive forces that now hold political power are spreading misinformation to divert the masses from the path of liberation. He pointed out that these divisions in society are also backed by corporate interests, which benefit from social fragmentation. “As Left and progressive forces, we must understand the nexus between capitalism and Manuvad, and draw lessons from Dr Ambedkar,” he stressed and concluded by saying that “It is essential that we wage a relentless battle against both.”

The programme also featured a play by Jana Natya Manch (JANAM) on the issue of unemployment, along with revolutionary songs performed by Ratan Gambhir. The programme concluded with resounding slogans of unity.