The CPI (ML) organized a statewide ‘Dhikkar Diwas’ on 27 July 2017 against the blatant betrayal of the people’s mandate and the political coup in Bihar. PM Modi’s and CM Nitish Kumar’s effigies were burnt at Kargil Chowk in Patna. Dhikkar marches, meetings, and effigy burnings were also held at Ara, Samastipur, Purnea, Siwan, Patna (Rural), Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Betiya, Nalanda, Nawada, Gopalganj, Jehanabad, Arwal, Darbhanga, Vaishali, at block and district levels.
The CPI(ML) organized a people’s Convention on 8 August 2017 at the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir against the betrayal of the people’s mandate, the politics of hate and violence and the murder of democracy. Party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya was the main speaker at the Convention which started with songs by Hirawal on the theme of Nitish Kumar’s treachery, after which State Secretary, Com. Kunal explained the context of the Convention with reference to the incidents which took place after the new government came to power and which are pushing Bihar the Gujarat way. Com Abhyuday read out the political resolution. AIARLA General Secretary Com Rajaram Singh expressed solidarity with the Narmada BachaoAndolan and said that the farmers of the country face distress today because of the anti-farmer and anti-poor policies of the government. Representatives of the CPI (Com. Rambabu Kumar), CPI-M (Com. Arun Kumar Mishra), SUCI (C) (Com. Arun Kumar), CPI (ML) (Com. Arvind Sinha) and Forward Bloc (Com. Virender Thakur) also addressed the Convention and said that the real treacherous face of Nitish Kumar now stands exposed.
Economist DM Diwakar said that the Modi government’s anti-farmer policies, imposition of GST, failure to implement land reforms and bhoodan land distribution, and incitement of communal hatred have put the country’s economy and democracy in grave danger. Dr PNP Pal, MN Karna, Sudama Prasad, Javed Ahmed, MahantManjhi, Meena Tiwari, KD Yadav and DhirendraJha also spoke at the Convention.
Addressing the Convention Com Dipankar Bhattacharya said that we must bring our agenda into focus and give a resounding reply to the attacks on minorities, dalits and the poor. He pointed out that while pro-Nitish intellectuals are terming Nitish’s treachery a ‘master stroke’ for ending corruption and bringing in development and disabling the communal policies of the BJP, pro-BJP intellectuals are calling the coup ‘Operation Bihar’. The BJP has made it clear that it wants to gain power in all parts of the country by hook or crook and crush all voices of dissent and opposition. They are putting plans in place to capture power in the entire country through any means. He pointed out that Ambedkar had warned that making India into a Hindu Rashtra would be the greatest tragedy to the country because that would mean Manuwaad and Brahmanwaad which are the greatest enemies of justice, equality, freedom and harmony. He appealed to all Left parties to fight together as this is not a question of saving Bihar alone but saving the whole of India.
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Statewide Protests Against Crackdown on Peace March At Biharsharif
The Insaf Manch organized statewide protests in Bihar on 23 July 2017 crackdown by the Bihar administration and police on a Peace March in Bihar Sharif, and their attempts to portray this silent march as a “security threat” and “threat to communal harmony” simply because a large number of Muslims participated in it. Protest programmes were organized Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, Ara, Arwal, Siwan and other places. The march and meetings across Bihar were addressed by leaders and activists from CPI(ML), Insaf Manch, AIPWA, AISA, RYA, and other people’s organizations. The speakers condemned the administration’s attempt to cast aspersions on the Insaf Manch, an organization which has long fought for justice for dalits and minorities. They pointed out that the administration had carried out a well-planned cycle of attacks on 17 July and slapped false cases on CPI(ML) and Insaf Manch activists and members of the minority community, whereas they had gathered for a peace march to mourn the Amarnath Yatra victims and seek justice for them, and to protest against the communal frenzy being spread by the RSS-BJP. The CPI(ML) enquiry team has found that the FIR filed by the administration is false, and contains names of people who were not present at the spot, as well as of bystanders and others who had nothing to do with the march.
The speakers demanded strict action on the Sub-divisional Officer, release of the arrested activists and revoking of the false cases against them, and end to the conspiracy to defame the Insaf Manch, and guarantee of the minority community’s safety.
