The CPI(ML) had given a call to observe 9 November 2016 countrywide as National Unity Day to protest against the Modi government’s attacks on freedom of the press and freedom of speech, bans on news channels and newspapers, ban on journalists in Bastar, repression of human rights in Kashmir and States in the North-East, and other issues. In response to this call, human chains, protest marches and other programmes were held across the country.
Bihar: Under this nationwide protest programme a human chain was formed from JP Chowk, Gandhi Maidan in Patna on 9 November 2016. CPI(ML) State Secretary Com. Kunal, PB member Amar, Central Control Commission Chairman Ramjatan Sharma, Samkaleen Lokyudh Editor Brij Bihari Pandey, former MLA and Kisan Mahasabha General Secretary Rajaram Singh and several other party leaders along with activists from AISA, AIPWA, RYA, Hirawal, and Chorus participated in the human chain and protested against the Modi government’s bid to inflict fascism on the country. Eminent intellectuals like Baldev Jha and Tarakeshwar Jha also took part in the human chain.
CPI (ML) leaders said that the attacks and bans on newspapers, channels and freedom of speech in the present time bring to mind the horrors of the days of Emergency imposed by Indira-Sanjay Gandhi. The Modi government is bent on suppressing every voice that disagrees with it and expresses dissent. The continuing attacks on democracy and freedom of the press are cause for grave concern. Therefore, a pervasive unity against fascist forces is the need of the hour today.
They pointed out that after facing pressure from across the country the government has only stayed the one-day ban on NDTV; the ban has not been rolled back. Bans on other channels are still on. Crushing freedom of the press amounts to dictatorship. Only a few weeks earlier an important Kashmiri newspaper Kashmir Reader was banned so that it could no longer report the ongoing movement in Kashmir. Journalists are being driven out of Bastar at the behest of the police and paramilitary forces. Now, whereas some channels which work as tools for the government are on velvet, one channel which, along with commercialism, was still maintaining some credibility in journalism, is being punished with a ban. What is this if not undeclared Emergency?
The protesters forming the human chain held placards displaying slogans such as: Stop attacks on the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression; Take back bans on news channels and newspapers; Stop repression and witch-hunt of journalists in Bastar (Chhattisgarh); Attacks on democracy will not be tolerated; Down with conspiracy to inflict fascism on the country; Nahin Chali Jab Hitlershahi, Modishahi Nahin Chalegi!; Nahin Chali Jab Indirashahi, Modishahi Nahin Chalegi!; and Jo Hitler ki Chaal Chalega Who Hitler ki Maut Marega.
The protest march in Darbhanga started from Polo Maidan and culminated in a meeting at Laheriyaserai Tower addressed by State Committee member Abhishek Kumar, Neyaz Ahmed of the Insaf Manch, and leaders from other parties and people’s organizations. Protest marches were organized in several other places in Bihar such as Darbhanga, Bhojpur, Arwal, Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Gopalganj, Betiya, saharsa, Gaya, Nalanda and Purnea.
In Jharkhand too, a statewide Protest Day was observed. CPI(ML) activists led by State Committee members Mohan Datta and Bhuneshwar Kewat, AIPF national advisor Fr Stan Swamy, MZ Khan (Janwadi Lekhak Sangh), Anil Anshuman (Jan Sanskriti Manch) Nadeem Khan (Awami Insaf Manch), and others, wearing black badges, led a citizens’ protest march at Albert Ekka Chowk.
In Ramgarh a protest march raising slogans was taken out through Subhash Chowk and Bus Stand and came back to the Party office where it culminated in a meeting. At Naya Mor, Gandhi Chowk in Bokaro Steel City slogans were raised with flags, banners and placards and then a meeting was held under the leadership of District Secretary Devdeep Singh Diwakar, JN Singh and Mohan Prasad. In Garhwa town activists marched through the town. At Lohardaga a protest march against attacks on democracy and freedom of the press was taken out led by District Secretary Mahesh Singh.
National protest day opposing the ban on TV channels and press was also observed at Lenin centre Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
In Lalkuan, Uttarakhand CPI(ML) leaders and common people took out a march in protest. The participants in the marh covered their mouths with a black cloth a mark of protest and condemned the authoritarian ways of the Modi regime.
