Memorial meetings to pay tribute to Dika Kumari and Rohith Vemula were organized across Bihar jointly by the CPI (ML), AIPWA, AISA, and RYA on 26 January, Republic Day. The meeting in capital Patna was held at Ambedkar Park, Lohanipur. Children were present in large numbers. The speakers included Com. Brij Bihari Pandey and other leaders from CPI (ML), AIPWA and AISA. The speakers recalled the true spirit of the Republic and the Constitution that the ‘Republic Day parades’ had forgotten, and said that this spirit was being attacked by the increased assaults on minorities, dalits, women and civil liberties. Rohith Vemula and Dika Kumari were killed because they were fighting for dignity, equality and their rights. Republic Day must be a day of resolve to intensify the struggle to defend and expand our democracy.
A memorial meeting was also held at Musahari in Lohanipur. Memorial meetings-Sankalp Sabhas were also held at Beur, Kankadbagh, Budhmurti and other places in Patna City. AISA organized a memorial meeting at the Patna University gate. AIPWA General Secretary Meena Tiwari visited Dika Kumari’s villge Fatehpur and paid tribute to Dika and Rohith Vemula.
Memorial meetings were also held in Bhojpur, Kaimur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Siwan and other districts. In Patna Rural, meetings were held at Paliganj, Masaurhi, Fatuha, Naubatpur and other places. A meeting of 184 students was organized by RYA at the Ambedkar Hostel No. 2 in Bhabhua, Kaimur district. Meetings to pay tribute to Dika and Rohith were also held at Silav and Rajgir villages in Nalanda. AISA organized a memorial meeting at the Samastipur SC/ST hostel. Memorial meetings-Sankalp Sabhas were also organized at Nawada, Chandwa and Anaith in Bhojpur.
