THE CPI(M) led an unprecedented 5,000-strong siege of both the SDO and tehsil offices at Wada in Palghar district from November 16, 2015 for six days and five nights continuously, till the evening of November 21. The CPI(M) Wada and Vikramgad tehsil committees jointly organised this struggle, forcing the government to concede all the demands and start immediate implementation. The AIKS, DYFI and AIDWA joined this struggle in full strength. It began with a rally of more than 8,000 adivasi men and women from more than 100 villages of Wada and Vikramgad tehsils, demanding immediate implementation of the Forest Rights Act, legal land titles to the tillers of the forest land, temple trust lands to be registered in the name of the tenants, starting of MNREGA work, drought relief by giving special loans to peasants and waiving of students’ fees, distribution of the full quota of ration grains, proper health facilities, water, electricity and roads. The agitators came with their bag, baggage and utensils, prepared to sit before the above offices till their demands were conceded. The callous administration thought that the people would not stay for more than a day. But they were sharply woken up from their stupor when they realised that they were up against determined fighters of the Red Flag. Over 5,000 people were continuously present in the siege day and night, and the strength went up to more than 8,000 during the day. As the word spread, people from more and more villages started participating. As the numbers swelled, people's enthusiasm knew no bounds. They sat at the two designated places shouting slogans, singing songs and dancing to the tune of various tribal musical instruments like the Tarpa. The administration was finally forced to start talks with the CPI(M) delegation. Some assurances were given to solve many of the above problems. But the CPI(M) clearly said that unless and until action was seen to be taken towards actually resolving all the above issues, the people will not leave and the siege will continue. The media started taking notice of this agitation from the second day onwards. News was splashed across the state by both print and electronic media. Villagers from other organisations and political parties too started joining the sit-in giving jitters to the rulers. Donations poured in from people for giving food to thousands of tribals in the sit-in. The entire market in Wada town observed a bandh on November 20 in support of this agitation. The growing support to the agitation scared the administration and after six days, the SDO gave a written letter committing to a time bound process for taking steps to solve all the pending issues. The SDO held a meeting of all the revenue officers, gram sevaks and concerned officers and chalked out a plan to identify the mistakes and resurvey the forest land, fill up forms of the tenants holding temple trust lands, send grains to the ration shops for distribution, ensure the starting of MNREGA work wherever it is demanded, take steps to fill the vacancies in the rural hospital, ensure proper treatment to patients, start work for road repairs, give electricity connections and mend the faulty electric lines. This victorious struggle has had a tremendously positive impact and has increased the confidence of the exploited masses. During the six days of this agitation, three massive rallies were organised in Wada town, bringing the entire traffic to a standstill. The struggle was led by CPI(M) state committee member, Wada tehsil secretary and DYFI state president Sunil Dhanwa, Party district secretariat member, Vikramgad tehsil secretary and DYFI state secretariat member Kiran Gahala, Party district committee member and AIKS state council member Raja Gahala, and many other AIKS, DYFI and AIDWA leaders. The rallies and public meetings that were held during the six days of this struggle were addressed by CPI(M) central secretariat member Dr Ashok Dhawale, state secretariat member and district secretary Barkya Mangat, state secretariat member Mariam Dhawale, state committee members Lahanu Kom, Ratan Budhar, Edward Vartha and Dr Ajit Nawale, district secretariat member Radka Kalangda and district committee members Sudam Dhinda, Heena Vanga and Bharat Walamba. The siege ended on the evening of November 21 amidst great enthusiasm and renewed vigour to build the Party and mass fronts and take the Red Flag forward from strength to strength.