A PROTEST march was organised in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on July 25 by the AIDWA state committee against the anti-people and anti-women policies of the Modi government. Later, a delegation met the Governor and submitted a memorandum containing an 18-point charter of demands. Hundreds of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) activists gathered at Jaipal Singh Stadium and then marched through the main thoroughfares of the city to the Governor’s House, where it culminated into a mass meeting.

At the mass meeting, speakers criticised the Centre and said that the Modi regime seemed to have forgotten all its electoral promises and was determined to carry forward the neo-liberal, anti-people economic policies. It has de-regularised life-saving drugs, curbed recruitments in government sector and curtailed budgetary allocations as regards to social welfare sectors like health and education. Even though there has been a fall in the price of crude oil in the international market, petroleum prices in our country have not proportionately come down. On the contrary, interests of corporate entities are being served, in the form of subsidies, tax-concessions, amendment in labour laws, etc. at the cost of the toiling masses. The manner in which the land acquisition amendment act was put through by issuing ordinances overlooking Parliament clearly shows the intentions of the government. Also the government has failed to ensure food security to all citizens, despite huge stocks of foodgrains in our country.

Further, there has been a spurt in the activities of the Hindutva outfits since the Modi dispensation took charge. These outfits in nexus with the saffron brigade are polarising the people on communal lines, thereby disrupting peace and harmony in the society. The statements of some of BJP leaders including ministers are only adding fuel to the fire. The main intention behind these activities is to divert the attention of the people from the pro-corporate, anti-people policies that are severely affecting the toiling masses and the scams and corruptions of the BJP leaders and ministers that are surfacing day-by-day.

In Jharkhand, the situation is no different. The BJP-led government is impeding the democratic rights of the people in rural areas by curbing the rights and powers of panchayats. No measures have been taken to stop forced immigration of the poor in search of livelihood and trafficking of girls and women. The law and order situation in the state is in a hapless condition and the plight of health and education is no better. It is a matter of concern that 70 per cent of women in Jharkhand are anaemic. Violence and crimes against women are on the rise. The state is also plagued by superstitious practices as a result of which women are killed on allegations of being associated with witchcraft and sorcery.

The meeting was addressed by Geeta Jha, Maya Layak, Renu Prakash, Gauri Ramesh, Farhat Khanam, Rajni Tigga, Anita Kachhap, Jaya Mazumdar, Putul Mahato and Kanchan Chaurasia.

Left Parties Condemn Govt Move

To Curb Democratic Rights

A MEETING of four Left parties – CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) and SUCI(C) – held on July 18 slammed the Raghubar Das-led state government’s attempts to curb democratic rights of the people. The Left parties opposed Jharkhand chief secretary Rajib Gauba’s directives to all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to take strong legal actions against public representatives in case of any so-called misbehaviour on their part and withdraw administered security. It has been decided to campaign against these high-handed and anti-democratic steps and resort to joint protest programmes throughout the state. The meeting was attended by G K Baksi and Prakash Viplav of CPI(M); K D Singh of CPI; Janardan Prasad and Sukhdeo Prasad of CPI(ML); and Sidheswar Singh of SUCI(C).