In Sahar (Bhojpur), communal fascist forces systematically tried to perpetrate attacks, looting and riots on the occasion of the idol immersion during the Laxmi puja. CPI(ML) took the initiative to robustly resist all these dubious plans to break Hindu-Muslim unity, and organised a march for peace and goodwill (Shanti Sadbhavana march) to protest attempts to create communal tensions and divisions. The march, led by Politburo member comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya, former MP comrade Rameshwar Prasad, comrades Sudama Prasad, Jawahar Singh and others, traversed the entire area appealing for peace and harmony. Addressing the meeting organized on the occasion, which was also the fourth death anniversary of comrade Ramnaresh Ram, comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya pointed out that feudal-communal forces were together conspiring to break the unity of the poor and the oppressed and in the process undermining Bhojpur’s anti-communal, anti-colonial legacy.
The tensions during the Laxmi idol immersion in Bhojpur was not a spur of the moment incident, but a result of systematic planning by local BJP activists including Madhukar Prasad, Shyamal Rai, Vimal Rai, Ashok Sodhi and others. Two or three kiosks belonging to the Muslim community were set afire, after which the DM and SP as well as JD (U) MLA Sunil Pandey and RJD leaders arrived at the Sahar thana. Subsequently, despite their presence in the thana, 28 shops belonging to Muslims were set ablaze. The people of Sahar foiled the attempts to start communal riots all over the area, but the BJP started spreading false rumours that CPI(ML) activists were involved in the attacks. Clearly, the BJP is stooping to any levels in order to break the unity of the poor. CPI(ML) leaders and several teams organized meetings in villages around Sahar against this mischievous rumour and exposing the communal conspiracy. Former MP Rameshwar Prasad, Raju Yadav, Sudama Prasad, Qayamuddin, Chandradeep Singh, Manoj Manzil and other leaders organized meetings at different villages, appealed for peace, and demanded the immediate arrest of all the conspirators. Moreover, Party volunteers were present at all the ghats in Bhojpur on the occasion of Chhath to ensure that the communal intentions of the BJP did not succeed. It was also decided to observe 1-2 November as Anti-communal Day (Sampradayikta Virodhi Diwas) at all the Chatti bazaars.
