The CPI (ML) organized a Satyagraha in front of the Jagdishpur Block headquarters in Bhagalpur on 9 May 2017 under the Land Rights Satyagraha with the landless poor calling for their land rights and resolving to fight for them. Earlier, hundreds of landless poor had taken out a rally from the Hospital Chowk, through the main Bazaar, culminating at the block headquarters. The rally held aloft red flag and raised slogans for 5 decimal land for all landless, implementation of land reforms and land ceiling Act, and calling for an end to corruption and loot in welfare schemes. The rally was led by comrades Mukesh Mukt, Sikandar Tanti andBirbal Kumar.
Addressing the Satyagrahis, Com Mukesh Mukt and other speakers said that hundreds of landless families in the State are waging a struggle for housing land but the government is paying no heed in spite of having promised housing land for all homeless and landless. The Champaran Satyagraha had taken place for land rights but the Nitish government, while spending crores on the centenary, is running away from the issue of implementing land reforms. This is a betrayal of the people of Bihar.
A delegation with a memorandum met the Jagdishpur Block Development Officer for talks. The BDO tried to evade the issue. When the delegation came out and reported the failure of the talks the Satyagrahis unanimously decided to gherao the Block Headquarters in huge numbers in a week’s time.
On 16 May the Satyagrahis once again took out a huge rally and locked the Block HQ gates after removing all the personnel from inside. Frightened of the angry protesters, the BDO called the police but the Satyagrahis stood their ground unafraid. Under pressure, the BDO asked for 15 days’ time. After an assurance of concrete action on their demands, the lockout of the Block HQ was lifted. The protest was led by comrades Bindeshwari Mandal, Sikandar tanti and Birbal Kumar. About 250 rural poor participated in the protest. But when there was no concrete action forthcoming on the Satyagrahis’ demands, the CPI (ML) held a dharna in front of the Block HQ on 3 June 2017. The BDO then told them that action on the demands is in process but would take some more time. The CPI (ML) warned the administration of a permanent lock-out of the Block HQ and announced that a dharna protest would be held in front of the DM’s office at the District HQ.
