Joint Left Protests in Bihar, Call for Bihar Bandh on July 21

A successful programme of protest demonstrations at block headquarters across the State was carried out by the CPI(ML) and other Left parties in Bihar from 23 June to 30 June to raise burning issues of the people. Strong protests at Patna rural, Bhojpur, Jehanabad, Arwal, Siwan, Darbhanga, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Western Champaran and other places which were attended by the common public clearly brought out the anger of the people against the treachery of the Central as well as State governments.

On 30 June leaders from CPI(ML), CPI, CPI-M, SUCI, and other left parties led protests at Sandesh, Sahar, Udwantnagar, Piro, Tarari, Bihiya, Shahpur, and Gadhani. At Phulwari Sharif, the protesters marched through the main roads, held a meeting at the BDO office which was addressed by leaders from the various left parties and submitted a memorandum to the BDO. Party leaders led the agitation at Paliganj. CPI(ML) and CPI leaders led protests at Masaurhi, Dhanarua, Naubatpur, Bihta, Fatuha, and other places. Joint left protests were also held at Guthni, Mairwa, Badhariya and Pachrukhi blocks in Siwan, Ratni, Makhdumpur, Ghoshi, Modanganj and Kako in Jehanabad, as well as all four blocks in Arwal, and Rohtas.

The following demands were made through the protests:

    1. Immediate revoking of the anti-farmer, pro-corporate Land Acquisition ordinance.

    2. Bihar government must totally stop acquisition of agricultural land, give full compensation for acquired land, and immediately return land that has been acquired through Biyada or has been lying unused.

    3. Implementation of the Bandopadhyaya Commission recommendations, possession for parcha holders to hathbandi, bhoodan, shikmi and all such lands, fulfillment of the promise to give 5 dismil vaas land to the poor and dalits, and arrangements for permanent residential land for the urban poor also.

    4. An end to the continuing farmer suicides in Bihar, immediate waiver of all debts of farmers, and provisions of government jobs and 10 lakhs compensation for family members of deceased farmers.

    5. Interest-free loans for farmers with less than 10 acres, an annual 1.5 times increase of minimum support price as recommended by the Swaminathan commission, and fulfillment of the BJP’s promise to fix MSP at 1.5 times the cost price for farmers.

    6. Immediate payment of paddy purchase arrears to farmers, opening of wheat purchase centres, fixing of MSP for maize and all other crops, ending the sway of middlemen at purchase centres, and a CBI enquiry into the paddy purchase scam.

    7. Registration and all government facilities under KCC for sharecroppers, an end to the corruption in crop loss compensation and immediate payment of compensation to affected farmers. Changes must be made in crop insurance policy that is pro-insurance company and anti-farmer crop according to which the compensation should be given only if 80% crops in a block are destroyed; instead, compensation must be paid even if a single farmer’s crop is destroyed. Government jobs must be given to the families of those killed in cyclones or earthquakes, 10 lakhs compensation, with rehabilitation of affected farmers and poor.

    8. Repair of all defunct hand pumps, timely supply of water in canals, adequate electricity supply for agricultural purposes, and a permanent solution for tackling floods and drought.

    9. Central and State governments should control price rise, take back cuts in food security, MNREGA and all other welfare and poverty alleviating programmes, register the names of all poor under BPL and provide them ration cards, provide 50 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg to all poor without discrimination between APL and BPL, and put an immediate stop to the system of cash transfer in lieu of rice.

    10. Central and State governments must take back the policy of contractual and honorarium employment, implement a policy of equal pay for equal work, regularize anganwadi workers, midday meal workers, shikshakarmis, ASHA workers, home guards, nursing and other contractual and honorarim workers, and pay them salary instead of honorarium, and also provide them with all other government facilities and terms and conditions.

    11. An end to the growing atrocities against women, dalits, minorities, and other weaker sections. Attempts by the BJP to disrupt communal harmony and saffronize educational and research institutions, history and culture must be put an end to.

    12. Curbing of the increased morale of feudal-criminal forces and reinstatement of the Amirdas Commission so that criminals and their protectors can be punished.

    13. Acquittal of the protesters pronounced guilty by the court in the Sitamarhi incident and strict action against the administration which fired bullets. There should be an immediate end to the increasing violence and false cases against people’s leaders.

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