THE Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (Peoples unity, peoples rights movement) is a newly formed platform of mass, class and social organisations, employees federations, teacher’s organisations, unorganised sector unions, dalit and tribal organizations, progressive non-government organisations and individuals. In its general body meeting, it decided to organise massive protests all over the country against the misrule of the anti-peasant, anti-working class, anti-minority, anti-dalit NDA government and expose the utter failures in its four-year rule. Rallies were decided to be held on May 23 across the country with the slogan ‘Modi sarkar ke char saal pol khol, halla bol’ (Modi government’s four years: raise your voice, expose and  fight). It was also decided to hold a rally in Delhi.

 

State level meetings and conventions were organised in most of the states. Conventions in Guwahati, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Patna, Jaipur and Delhi were impressive. It was decided to form ‘JEJAA’ at the state and district levels. The meetings were held in Mumbai, Hissar, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Lucknow and Kolkata. The JEJAA centre monitored the state level preparations closely and a model leaflet was sent to all states. Most of the states printed the hand bill in their regional languages and distributed amongst the people. The response to the activities was enthusiastic and the weaker states took it very seriously. Posters were printed in some states and social media campaign was organised. A favorable atmosphere was created in the country for exposing the false promises of Narendra Modi.

 

The programmes were successfully organised in 23 states with good participation of people. In the recent past on a single day such a widespread protest prgramme was not seen. Closer coordination among different organisations developed. The participation of women and youth was also notable in the event. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) played an important role in these efforts.

 

In New Delhi, on May 23, under scorching sun, people from all sections, from Delhi and NCR gathered at Mandi House Chowk. They marched to Parliament Street. In the states, JEJAA programme created a good impression. In Patna, nearly 20,000 people gathered with great enthusiasm. They held a huge rally and defying the police, gathered near assembly. In Vijayawada, more than 3,000 people rallied in a colorful programme. Rallies were held in several districts in Andhra Pradesh. In Guwahati, more than 2,000 people joined the rally whereas more than five thousand people gathered in 12 district protest meetings in Assam.

In Ahmadabad, a good convention was held and in the rally more than 2,000 people were mobilised. In Haryana, 2,500 people attended the protest meeting at Karnal where as good number of people from the state joined Delhi rally from adjoining districts. Another good rally was held in Bhopal where more than 2,500 participated. A good rally was held in Shimla along with protest meetings in ten districts of Himachal Pradesh.

 

In Ranchi, more than 3000 people attended the rally. In Maharashtra, district level rallies were held in 16 districts in which more than 20,000 people participated. In Imphal, a good protest was organised on that day. In Bhubaneswar, in spite of good preparations the gathering was about 1000. The cyclone in the state affected the mobilisation. In 22 districts of Punjab including Chandigarh, protests were organised in which more than 20,000 people participated. In Jaipur, 5000 strong rally was held. In Chennai more than 5000 people gathered in protest rallies at all districts; these were also converted into protest demonstrations against the  killing of 13 people in the anti- Sterlite agitation in Thoothukudi. 

 

In Lucknow, a protest meeting was successfully held. There were district level rallies in 30 districts as well. In Dehradun, 1000 people participated. In West Bengal, 5000 people attended a meeting in Kolkata jointly held by BPMO and JEJAA. In Jammu also a protest meeting was organised and addressed by Ghulam Nabi Malik. In Tripura, JEJAA held its first public programme after the BJP government came to power and unleashed barbaric atrocities against the democratic movement. More than 2,500 people participated in the Agartala protest meeting.  In Telangana also, a meeting was held in Hyderabad and in twenty districts. 

 

JEJAA was formed through a national convention in New Delhi on September 18, 2017. The convention was attended by more than one hundred class and mass organizations and social movements. The convention adopted a declaration of the people and a charter of people’s demands. It called upon the people to build up a massive united militant struggle against the authoritarian, communal and pro-corporate government and defend the secular democratic and socialist values embedded in our constitution. 

 

JEJAA first called for a torch light processions on October 30, 2017 against the communal casteist and divisive darkness created by the RSS-led Hindutva forces in the country. At about 3000 places, this programme was observed. The ‘Pol Khol Halla Bol’ is its second programme and thousands of people all over the country responded to the call. JEJAA has to expand its network to the village level. All the member organisations together command a huge 20 crore mass of people. Building a Left Democratic Front is essential to fight against the present exploitative order and JEJAA could be a step forward towards it.