ON December 1, the main thoroughfares and bazars at Dumka reverberated with slogans against the amendments to  Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy acts introduced by the BJP government in the state. A strong rally of 2000 people comprising  tribals and other poor farmers at the call of Adivasi Adhikar Manch and Kisan Sabha, Jharkhand committees. This colourful protest rally started from Gandhi Maidan and culminated into a mass meeting at Commissioners Office. It was addressed by Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member. She congratulated the tribal, youth, poor farmers and people of Santhal Pargana for vehemently opposing the anti-tribal and anti-poor policies of the BJP government. She said that by amending the Section-13 of Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act , the BJP government has mounted attack on land rights of tribals, dalits and OBCs, to serve the interests of corporates. GK Baksi, state secretary of CPI(M), Praful Linda, secretary AAM Jharkhand, Surjeet Sinha, secretary Jharkhand Kisan Sabha and Subhash Hembram also addressed the rally.

Brinda Karat visited the students hostel of SP College and met the suffering students, who were arrested by police to terrorise and punish them for their participation in the November 25 Jharkhand Bandh called to oppose the amendments to SPT and CNT Acts. Police had ransacked the students hostel, falsely alleging that they were having arms, while police could recover only bow and arrow, which come under tribal traditions and also kept as sport’s kit for archery. Subsequently, the college administration ordered closure of hostel. A delegation led by Brinda Karat met the deputy commissioner of Dumka on the problems faced by the students. The delegation was assured by the DC that the hostel will be reopened so that students can appear in the examinations and proper enquiry will be made with regard to the police cases etc.

KHUNTI RALLY

On December 5, an impressive protest rally and mass meeting was independently organised by CPI(M) at Khunti against the amendment to CNT and SPT Acts , attack on democratic rights, police firing on farmers of Saiko village, false police cases against villagers protesting against the BJP government.

Brinda Karat, while addressing the mass rally made a scathing attack on the BJP government protesting against the amendments to CNT and SPT Acts, against the police firing at Saiko killing Abraham Mundu, a poor peasant. She said, the Raghuvar Das led BJP governement is pursuing a model of vinash (destruction) not vikas (development), and has deserted and betrayed people and is only bent upon to advance the interests of corporates. Wherever there is people’s unrest on democratic issues and land rights, the BJP government  is using terror tactics. There were three such policing firing cases in the last few months killing 7, grievously injuring 42. Hundreds of false police cases were filed against political workers and rayats.

Brinda Karat and other CPI(M) leaders met the family members of Abraham Mundu who was killed in Saiko police firing on October22. The martyrdom of Abraham Mundu was saluted during the mass meeting. This mass meeting was also addressed by GK Baksi, Rajendra Singh Munda , ex MLA, Sudhir Das, CITU state president, Mochi Rai Munda, Ganesh Munda and Afsar Ali. Birendra and Sudhir Das camped in Khunti since Saiko firing and worked relentlessly for the success of the rally. Local people of Khunti expressed that December 5th rally was the biggest in the recent experience. It was attended by 6000 people.