Against attacks on Dalits,
Demanding Release of CPI(ML) MLA Com. Satyadev Ram and other leaders
On 5 January 2016, AIARLA held protest demonstrations in front of several district and block headquarters across Bihar on the question of increasing attacks on the Dalits and the poor in the state, and also to demand the release of CPI (ML) MLA from Darauli, Com. Satyadev Ram and other leaders. Leading the protests in Dhanarua in Patna district, the General Secretary of AIARLA, Com. Dhirendra Jha addressed the protestors and said that it was clear from the Bihar election mandate that people of Bihar want justice. However, the Nitish government is trying to frame the leaders leading pro-people agitations on various false charges and putting them in jail. We will not tolerate the incarceration of leaders who are popular among the poor and have been known to raise their voice for them. Leaders like Com. Satyadev Ram, National President of RYA, Com. Amarjeet Kushwaha and the state Joint Secretary of RYA, Com. Manoj Manzil have been put in jail on false charges following their crucial role in the Land rights struggle of the poor and they must be released without any delay. He added that post elections, the attacks on the poor and Dalits have increased and the rate of crimes has also increased. Killings of Puttu Manjhi in Hilsa and the beating to death of Dalits in Atari are just few of such instances. The instances of rapes have also risen in Bihar.
AIARLA also demanded from the newly elected state government- (i) to immediately starts MNREGA in drought affected areas, (ii) add all poor in the list of beneficiaries, (iii) provide adequate and regular pension to the needy old, (iv) provide occupancy to the holders of land papers and handed a memorandum including this demands. Memorandums were also submitted in various district offices. The AIARLA leaders warned that if the government did not initiate immediate action towards this direction, then a gherao of MPs and MLAs will be launched in the entire state. They also added that a movement will be launched for the revocation of the condition according to which having a toilet at home was being made a pre-condition to contest in Panchayat elections. From 19-24 January 2016, a series of protests will be held by the poor for their demands at Panchayat offices throughout the state. AIARLA leaders also said that the protest was also against the life imprisonment of eight union leaders who had participated in the movement in the Pricol factory situated in Coimbatore. They expressed their solidarity with the struggling workers and pledged to continue the struggle.
More than ten thousands of rural poor and agricultural labourers participated in the protests held in 23 districts and the 10 blocks within Patna district itself.
