Grameen Bandh Evokes Good Response in Bihar
Arun Kumar Mishra
or reload the browser
AMIDST the political turmoil in Bihar caused by Nitish Kumar's shameless opportunism, the widespread anger of the people manifested itself on February 16, 2024. A nationwide rural shutdown was called by various peasant organisations and central trade unions to protest against the anti-farmer, anti-worker policies of the central government.
The horrific visuals emerging from the Delhi borders where police brutality against the protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana was on display, prompted all democratic forces, especially the peasants and workers of Bihar to take to the streets on February 16.
The response to the calls on February16, included joint processions and demonstrations at various levels – district, sub-divisional, block, and panchayat. Some areas appeared deserted due to a two-day strike by transport workers on February 16 and 17. The transport strike was in protest against the hit and run law enacted by the central government, as well as in solidarity with the peasants and workers’ strike call. According to reports from the AIKS, Khet Mazdoor Union, and CITU headquarters in Patna, around 2,50,000 people participated in various actions across different districts. They raised militant slogans against the anti-peasant, anti-worker, and anti-driver policies of the central government, as well as its authoritarian approach towards the popular upsurge. State government employees and BSNL also joined the strike, while the financial sector organised lunch hour meetings outside their respective offices throughout Bihar. Due to the strike called by the CITU-led All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation Bihar unit, approximately 80 per cent of long-route buses and trucks remained off the roads, and 50 per cent of smaller vehicles, such as auto rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and goods carriers, also joined the strike. It is important to note that due to the ongoing Bihar secondary examination starting on February 15, the strikers refrained from blocking highways and roads to avoid causing difficulties for the students trying to reach their examination centres. Scheme workers, especially anganwadis, ASHA, Mamta, and Mid-day Meal women workers, participated significantly in almost all district headquarters, staging dharnas in front of their centres. A considerable number of construction workers also joined the strike.
State party and mass organisation leaders, along with leaders of different organisations, participated in various districts. In Patna, a march started from the GPO and proceeded through Patna junction, around Gandhi Maidan, reaching Dak Bangla roundabout at around 2 pm. A meeting was held there, addressed by CITU state president Ganesh Shankar Singh and Kisan Sabah all India joint secretary Awadhesh Kumar.
Party state secretary Lalan Choudhary, secretariat member P N Rao, Binod Jha, and Sanjay Kumar led the march in Darbhanga, Betiah, Saharsa, Khagaria. Sarvodaya Sharma and Arun Kumar Mishra joined the march in Patna.
On March 3, the Mahagathbandhan rally took place. The constituents of Mahagathbandhan met at the RJD office in Patna and collectively decided to hold a mega rally in the historic Gandhi Maidan. The rally aimed to kick-start the campaign to remove the Modi government from power, to protect the secular and republic nature of the constitution and the idea of India. Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav has begun the Jan Vishwas Yatra, which is receiving an enormous response from the common people of Bihar. It is expected that Patna will witness one of the largest gatherings of people from Bihar. Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary will address the rally along with Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav, D Raja, and Deepankar Bhattacharya.
or reload the browser
or reload the browser
