Statement of the Central Committee of Communist Ghadar Party of India, 25 Feb, 2007

The Communist Ghadar Party of India condemns the dastardly firebombing of the Samjhauta Express near Panipat on the night of 18 February as a criminal act against the peoples of both India and Pakistan. Most of the victims were Pakistani individuals and families who were returning home after spending time visiting their relatives in India. The fire killed about 70 passengers, including several children, in a most gruesome manner. Dozens of others lie injured with severe burns in various hospitals, far removed from their homes and families.

Along with the bombing itself, the Communist Ghadar Party of India also condemns the callous treatment of the victims and their relatives by the governments of both India and Pakistan. In the aftermath of the attack, both governments are playing their cynical political games, using the unfortunate suffering people as pawns in their battles at great risk to these people's lives and health. This only confirms that these governments do not have the interests of the people at heart.

The majority of victims in this instance were Pakistanis traveling on the “peace train”, and the attack took place just one day before the arrival of Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri in New Delhi. Because of this, there has been much speculation in the media in both India and Pakistan about who were its perpetrators and what was the intention behind it. The fact, however, is that this is not an isolated incident, but only the latest instance of a phenomenon that has been recurring with ever greater frequency in this part of the world.

Every terrorist attack in India has a very predictable political outcome. It is used by the state to confuse the people about who their real enemies are. It is used to discredit particular movements, or particular communities, or particular countries. It is invariably used to justify beefing up the intelligence and police and armed forces of the state, as well as to strengthen legislation and other repressive measures to deny the democratic rights of the people in the name of fighting terrorism. These facts cannot be ignored when people try and understand what is the motive behind this or some other incident of terrorism.

It is equally true that the real truth about who carries out such attacks, and at whose behest they are carried out, is never allowed to come out in the open. Various individuals are killed outright by the police and intelligence agencies and then charged with being terrorists. Recently, it has come out that a large number of people in Kashmir have been falsely labeled and killed as terrorists over a number of years. At other times, various individuals are arrested and charged with terrorist activities, but invariably the actual facts are never revealed through open trials in a court of law, but are hushed up in the name of “security”. The people continue to be left in the dark about the facts.

The truth is that state terrorism and what passes for individual terrorism in this part of the world are closely linked, they are two sides of the same coin. Along with the politics of lies and deception, they serve the interests of reactionary ruling classes and imperialism in keeping the people fearful, disoriented and confused about the real state of affairs and the actual source of their problems. The people must refuse to be cowed down, and must be vigilant against this kind of criminal politics. They must demand thorough and credible investigation into all acts of terrorism, and insist that the full facts are placed before the public.