Hari Singh ‘Tarq’, President, AFDR, Punjab has left us
Peoples Democratic Front Of India (PDFI) expresses deep anguish and condolence at the departure of our respected Hari Singh Tarq, President of Association for democratic Rights, Punjab (AFDR), Convenor of Committee For the Assistance Of Tribals Affected by Salwa Judum (CATAS). He was a stalwart in defending the human rights and democratic rights of people in India and particularly in Punjab. He always stood for the protection and promotion of the rights of the toiling and deprived masses. Hari Singh Tarq stood boldly in defence of the marginalised people right from Lehara Gaga to all India level. He struggled hard to build an all India movement for democratic Rights. He was always an important member of the fact finding teams to various parts of country e.g. Jharkhand POTA victims, Gujarat carnage, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh state repression etc. etc., carried out by AFDR or jointly with other civil liberties organisations.
With his initiative the first programme of the chain of programmes devoted to Shaheed Bhagat Singh;s Birth Centenary year started from Lehara Gaga in 2006.
For more than a decade he continuously and regularly edited a monthly journal, previously named Jan Dastak and now Shabad Baan, highlighting the democratic values in literature, culture, society and politics and exposed the exploitative and oppressive system ruthlessly and boldly.
His death is a huge loss for the democratic movement of India and particularly of Punjab.
On the fateful day he along with his comrade Des Raj Chhajali and his young son was coming back from Barnala after attending a programme in the memory of Revolutionary writer and singer Sant Ram Udasi when he met an accident near Sunam. He was declared dead when brought to Patiala Hospital. Des Raj and his son are still crtical.
We, the organisations constituents of PDFI convey our heartfelt condolences to all family members, colleagues, friends and comrades.