PATNA: CPI (M-L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Thursday demanded withdrawal of cases lodged against persons in Bihar and elsewhere for waving Palestinian flags.Addressing a press conference here, the Left leader also said he disapproved of INDIA bloc partners like RJD president Lalu Prasad turning up at the wedding of Reliance group chief Mukesh Ambani’s son.”We demand withdrawal of all cases filed against those who have waved the Palestinian flag in Bihar and other parts of the country. India recognises Palestine and the policy has continued under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hence, those people cannot be accused of any wrongdoing,” said Bhattacharya.Several people were taken into custody for waving the Palestinian flag in Bihar, in the last few days, including during Muharram processions on Wednesday.In the adjoining Jharkhand, Palestinian flags being used in Muharram processions were met with outrage by the BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad which has threatened a stir in protest.Following this, one person was arrested and another was detained in Dumka.”Flags of Palestine are being waved as a sign of solidarity with the people of Gaza, where close to two lakh lives have been lost in the military action by Israel. India has never shied away from backing Palestine. A reason why a Palestinian embassy exists in New Delhi,” the CPI(ML) leader said. The Left leader also minced no words in criticising allies like Lalu Prasad and his son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav for attending the wedding of Anant Ambani in Mumbai last week.”In our view, they should have avoided going there. We are opposed to crony capitalism. Our political programme is along that line. We cannot be seen rubbing shoulders with business tycoons,” said Bhattacharya.He also flayed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh where the police have controversially asked owners of fruit stalls, put up across the route for “Kanwar yatra”, to display their owners’ names, in a move that is being seen as aimed at pushing Muslim sellers out of business during the Hindu pilgrimage season.”This is a clear-cut case of discrimination on the basis of religion. This is against the Constitution,” Bhattacharya pointed out.
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