CALCUTTA: Legislative assembly of the eastern state of West Bengal Friday unanimously adopted a motion hailing the release of South African leader Nelson Mandela.
The motion, moved by the left front chief whip Sachin Sen and leaders of eight political parties, demanded that the Pretoria regime must immediately abolish the structure of racial discrimination, release all political prisoners and give up all policies of racial oppression.
It said Dr. Mandela’s release signified not only the triumph of South African People’s fight against imperialism and racial discrimination but also a great step forward of the fight of the people of the third world against imperialism.
“The house is aware that the people of India, particularly of West Bengal have been fighting for long for the release of this undisputed leader and for the cause of independence of the South African people in keeping with the tradition of this State for fighting against all forms of discrimination and imperialism,” the motion said.
The motion further said that the house fully endorsed the struggle of the South African people for the establishment of a government by the majority on the basis of universal adult franchise.
The opposition Congress (I) members, who vociferously protested against exclusion of the party in the motion list, however, participated in the two hour discussion and supported the resolution.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 23, 1990
