Protests in Delhi and Bihar against Bail to Shahabuddin

A protest outside Bihar Bhawan in New Delhi was called by the AISA on 15 September to protest against the bail granted to RJD leader Shahabuddin. Accused in several cases of murder, he was also responsible for the killing CPI (ML) activist and ex JNUSU president Com. Chandrashekhar in 1997.  However, before the protestors could reach Bihar Bhawan, they were detained. As the protestors kept gathering, the police continued to detain them and take them to different police stations. The police tried to convince the activists to shift the venue of protest to Jantar Mantar, however the protestors refused saying that the Bihar state government must be held accountable for its failure to keep Shahabuddin in jail and also for providing him continued political patronage as was visible during the day of his release. The protestors carried placards demanding his arrest. Several placards carried the poem of Faiz Ahmad Faiz- “The sleeves of each assassin are spotless. No sign of blood: no trace of red, not on the edge of the knife, none on the point of the sword.” Delhi state secretary of AISA, Com. Ashutosh said that while criminals involved in murders and riots were being granted bail, activists protesting against this were being sent to jail. He added that more such protests will be organised in days to come to ensure justice for com. Chandu.

CPI (ML) also called for protest in Siwan on 13 September, birthplace of Com. Chandu and also the place where he was assassinated. The protest was against bail for Shahabuddin, acquittal of Bathani-Bathe convicts and also demanding release of CPI  (ML) leaders Satyadeo Ram and Amarjit Kushwaha, who have been framed on false charged for fighting for the rights of rural poor and Dalits in Bihar. On the same day, CPI (ML) also held a memorial meeting for Ghulam Haider’ s baby daughter Juhi and his elderly father and a young relative who were killed in Rajpur village, in Andar, 20 years ago to punish him for being a CPIML activist. The protestors pointed out how the perpetrators of violence against the oppressed continued to enjoy political patronage under both the past and present state governments in Bihar.

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