RIENDS and comrades of Avtar Singh Sadiq, a leader among Britain’s Indian communist community, paid tribute to him today after he passed away late yesterday.
Mr Sadiq’s death “is a massive loss to the international working-class movement and the Indian Workers Association (IWA) in Britain, of which he was one of the earlier members,” IWA vice-president Harsev Bains said.
“Comrade Sadiq” was equally comfortable organising a dance group or attending international communist conferences, Mr Bains recalled, adding that the gap he would leave for the IWA, its Leicester branch in particular and his family was “immeasurable.
“Rest in peace, comrade, for you have truly earned it,” he said. “Red salute.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury sent his condolences to Britain-based comrades, saying Mr Sadiq “served the party through the Association of Indian Communists in Great Britain and the Indian Workers Association.”
Morning Star readers may best remember him for his role in the annual Leicester fundraisers for the paper, which have raised countless thousands of pounds for the Fighting Fund as guests were guaranteed high-profile labour-movement speakers alongside great food and company.
