The CPI(ML) strongly condemned the brutal killing of five dalits on 15 Oct by a VHP-led mob at Dulina village in Jhajjar of Haryana and demanded a high level judicial enquiry into the incident. The Party expressed deep resentment over the direct involvement of the police-administration in this crime and the failure of the Chautala govt. to nab the culprits.
A CPI(ML) team led by Comrade Prem Singh, Party incharge of Haryana, of which Comrade Rajpal of DTC Employees Union was also a member, visited the site of the incident and found that “cow-slaughter” by dalits was actually a well-planned rumour spread by the RSS and VHP elements to incite mob to attack dalits. The team also visited homes of those killed and met the bereaved families.
The Party demanded immediate arrest and examplary punishment to the killers and their saffron patronisers, stern action against the officials of the police-administration including SP, DSP, City Magistrate, SHO and Chowki In-charge of Dulina, who assisted the criminals to perpetrate such grisly crime. Compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to the victims’ families, jobs to their dependents and guarantee of security to dalits in the region was also demanded.
The Party also condemned the statements of the RSS and VHP leaders justifying the heinous killings, saying that the Jhajjar killing has once again laid bare the communal-Brahminal character of the saffron gangs.
The CPI(ML) held an impressive ‘Nav Jagaran’ (Resurgence) rally at Begusarai in Bihar on 7 Oct. in which thousands of people including hundreds of supporters and activists of other left parties, employees, teachers and advocates also participated. Addressing the rally CPI(ML) General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya called for a powerful communist resurgence, saying “Only a red wave of resistance can save the country from saffron subversion and defeat the anti-development forces in Bihar.” Attacking the disastrous economic policies of the Vajpayee govt. which have resulted in the closure of various public sector undertakings including the Barauni unit of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation, he called upon the people to launch an agitation otherwise the days are not far off when the Barauni refinery would also be closed down. “If the people don’t adopt the course of agitation against the Union and State governments, no industry except one of kidnapping and crime would flourish here”, he said. He said the representatives of various bodies constituted after the panchayat elections are being denied constitutional powers. He called upon the people to turn each and every Panchayat into a platform of struggles for rural development and democracy in the state.
This rally was also addressed by Party’s Central Committee member and In-charge of the district Saroj Chaube. The meeting was presided over by the Party district secretary Chandradev Verma. Several resolutions including demand for distribution of surplus land among the landless, curb on bunglings and corruption in red card distribution and compensation for damaged crops to the flood and drought affected people were also passed.
A protest dharna was held at the office of the District Collector in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on 19 Sept. demanding speedier relief work in the drought affected areas, 10-hours free electricity supply to the peasants and employment to the workers. Large number of peasants and workers participating in the dharna were addressed, among others, by Phoolchand Dhewa, district Party secy, Ramchandra Kulhari, Secy. of Rajasthan Kisan Sangathan and Mahesh of Inquilabi Mazdoor Union. A memorandum was also submitted to the district administration with above demands.
Around four thousand peasants and workers of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan led by CPI(ML), Rajasthan Kisan Sangthan and the Inquilabi Mazdoor Union laid a seize to the District Collectorate from 1 to 3 October to protest various anti-people Central and State government policies. The District Collector was forced to remain in the office till late in the night on 1 Oct and this compelled him to negotiate with the protesters on 3 Oct. After the negotiations failed, hundreds of peasants blocked the roads in Buhana block on 7 October and stopped the local MP Shishram Ola from entering into the villages. The MP along with the local MLA and Zila Pramukh were forced to go back.
Despite massive police crackdown on the peasants and workers to foil the growing movement, thousands of people reached Jhunjhunu on 12 Oct, when Sonia Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gahlot and Energy Minister Ram Narayan Chaudhary were to address a meeting in the town. In view of the ongoing peasant struggle the Congress leaders were left with no choice but to cancel their programme.
Addressing the rally Party state secretary Comrade Mahendra Chaudhary charged the ruling Congress and the main opposition BJP with orchestrating a drama of accusing each other to cover the main issues of common people. The meeting was also addressed by CPI(ML) leader Phoolchand Dhewa, Kisan Sangathan leader Ram Chandra Kulhari and Mazdoor Union leader Mahesh Chaumal.
Hundreds of peasants again came to the streets on 15 Oct to block Churu Road near Baas, and the Energy Minister Ram Narayan Chaudhary, who was to attend a programme at Baas had to cancel his visit in face of the angry mood of the people. The protesters also gheraoed the office of the chief Engineer, Electricity Deptt. on 16 Oct.
The CPI(ML) strongly condemned and protests the custodial death of Comrade Nadha Naiko, a Party cadre of Gunupur in Orissa, on 9 Oct. The Party demanded immediate institution of a judicial inquiry, severe punishment to the jail authorities in Gunupur and adequate compensation to the bereaved family. The Party also demands release of its leaders including district secretary Tirupati Gomango who are in jail for last two and half months under framed-up charges.
Comrade Nadha Naiko, who had been detained in Gunupur Jail under judicial custody under false charges, fell sick suddenly, but callous jail authorities did not respond to the situation. When his condition further worsened the authorities decided to take him to the Berhampur Hospital, but he died on the way. The death of comrade Naiko sparked off a widespread protests in the district. Enraged people took to the streets at many centres in Gunupur. A ‘Bandh’ was observed in Padampur block on 12 October.
Observing the birth anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on 28 September 2002, AISA and RYA staged an impressive ‘anti-terrorism-anti-communal fanaticism’ march from New Delhi Railway Station to Ferozshah Kotla Ground. It was participated in by nearly fifteen hundred activists, mainly students and youth from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Punjab. The march was led by AISA leaders Kavita Krishnan and Sunil Yadav and RYA leaders Mithilesh Yadav, Lal Bahadur Singh and Md. Saleem. CPI(ML) leaders Rajendra Pratholi and Ranjit Abhigyan also participated in the march, which culminated into ‘Sankalp Sabha’ held at Ferozshah Kotla Grounds. Remembering Bhagat Singh the participants pledged to carry forward his legacy of struggle against imperialism and communal fanaticism. A book titled “Bhagat Singh: Vichar Aur Sangharsh”, published jointly by AISA and RYA in Hindi, was released on this occasion by Prof. Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary of Punjab Jantantrik Sabha who also happens to be Bhagat Singh’s nephew. The meeting was also addressed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Rajinder Sachar, noted journalist Javed Naqvi, Jan Sanskrit Manch General Secretary Ajay Singh and former President of the Benaras Hindu University Students’ Union Anand Pradhan among others. Professor Subhendu Ghosh of Delhi University and several other cultural activists presented songs on this occasion.
Under the same programme RYA unit of West Bengal and Paschimbanga Ganasanskritik Parishad organized a joint rally. A well-decorated procession with Bhagat Singh’s portrait was taken out from Sealdah station reaching Minto Park where the gathering observed Bhagat Singh’s birthday. Prominent writers Sandipan Chattopadhyay, singer Ajit Pandey, Khursheed Alam Khan of Indo-Pak Friendship Association, columnist Aziz-ul-Haque were among the main speakers. On behalf of the organiers Comrades Arijit Mitra, Jayatu Deshmukh and Bijoy Basak addressed the gathering. Before the programme an intensive propaganda campaign was undertaken during which one thousand posters were pasted on city walls.
Marches and demonstrations were also held at several other centers including Patna, Bhagalpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Pilibhit and Kolkata, Raiganj, Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri. In Patna, to mark this occasion a play on Bhagat Singh’s exemplary life “Gagan Damama Bajiyo” (Drums Rending the Sky) directed by Piyush Mishra was staged at Kalidas Rangalaya on 28 and 29 September. On both days a jam-packed hall responded with rapt attention.