Arun Kumar Mishra
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ON March 3, from the early hours, large number of people made their way to Gandhi Maidan in Patna, proudly waving red, green, and tricolour flags while chanting the slogan BJP Bhagao-Desh Bachao repeatedly. Peasants and workers, under the banners of CPI(M), CPI, and CPI(ML), had already started gathering at the Maidan from the evening of March 2nd. Not even the unexpected rain during the night could dampen the spirits of the participants. By 11 am on March 3, the entire city of Patna was inundated with rally participants.
All entry points and the Maidan area were decorated with vibrant green and red colours. The meeting commenced at 12 o'clock and continued for three and a half hours. The massive rally was held with a resolute determination to defeat the pro-corporate, communal authoritarian regime led by Modi's NDA, in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The clarion call, issued by the national leaders of Mahagathbandhan, urging the people to stand against Modi's divisive politics that is fracturing the Indian society along religious, caste, and ethnic lines, was met with enthusiastic approval from the lakhs of people – men, women, and youth – whose voices resonated with resounding support.
In the wake of Nitish Kumar's betrayal, the people of Bihar are eager to do away with politics that are devoid of any ideological motivation, and that are fuelled solely by an insatiable desire to seize power at any cost. The disturbance caused by Nitish Kumar's exit from the Mahagathbandhan coalition has sparked a new wave of reflection among the masses, evident during Tejashwi Yadav's Jan Vishwas Yatra. The yatra garnered tremendous response, particularly from Bihar's youth, transcending caste and religious barriers.
Throughout the yatra, the red flags of CPI(M), CPI, and CPI(ML) fluttered alongside the green and tricolour flags of Janata Dal and the Congress party, symbolising the unity of the people – a scene reminiscent of the national freedom movement.
The rally has not only communicated this message to the people of Bihar but also to the entire country, urging the unity of the people to counter the RSS-led BJP. The BJP, which represents a history of aligning with the British during India's struggle against imperialism, has to be defeated through this unified effort.
Every speaker emphasized Bihar's pivotal role in shaping the country's politics, both during the early independence movement and in recent times. Rahul Gandhi echoed this sentiment in his brief yet impactful critique of the current Modi regime, underlining the pressing need to replace it by voting for the constituents of INDIA in the upcoming elections.
Recalling the historical significance of mega rallies at the Gandhi Maidan held earlier, CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury detailed the grim situation prevailing in the country during the ten-year rule of the RSS-led BJP. The party, in a rush to establish a fascistic majoritarian rule, aims to bury the secular, republican, and democratic constitution, replacing it with the Manudharma Code. Yechury congratulated the people of Bihar for once again taking the lead, especially in the Hindi heartland, to thwart the BJP and its politics of hate. He ridiculed the Modi guarantee as having zero assurances and commended Tejashwi Yadav for implementing his guarantee of providing jobs to the youth of Bihar. He reminisced about the impactful ‘Mega Garib Rally,’ ‘Lathi Rally’, and ‘Sadbhawna Rally’ organised by Lalu Prasad, acknowledging their significant role in shaping the country's politics. The mega rally held today will lead to the defeat of the BJP and its allies in the 2024 parliamentary elections in Bihar, paving the way for the formation of the INDIA government at the centre, he said.
As Tejashwi Yadav took the stage, he was greeted with wild cheers from the numerous youths in the rally, who expressed their approval for his role in delivering 5 lakh jobs during the last 17 months of the Mahagathbandhan rule. It is noteworthy that during the 2020 assembly elections, Tejashwi had pledged to provide 10 lakh jobs to the unemployed youths of Bihar. Remarkably, 50 per cent of this promise has been fulfilled within the short span of 17 months, whereas the BJP-JD(U) rule over the past 17 years failed to deliver jobs.
Congress president Kharge and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav saluted the spirit of Bihar, urging the people of Bihar to lead the nation in safeguarding the constitution and preserving its secular character.
In the concluding address, Lalu Prasad Yadav lampooned the Modi government for its various shortcomings and urged the participants to reach out to the poorest of the poor, mobilising them to defeat the BJP and its allies. When he referred to Nitish Kumar as "Paltu Ram," the entire Maidan erupted in roaring laughter.
CPI(M) state secretary Lalan Chowdhary, Central Committee member Awadhes Kumar, and MLA Satyendra Yadav addressed the rally on behalf of the Party. They passionately urged the gathering to unite with all secular democratic forces and the constituents of Mahagathbandhan to defeat the BJP and its allies in every seat. State secretariat members Sarvodaya Sharma, Binod Kumar, Arun Kumar Mishra were also seated on the dais.
Left leaders, including D Raja, general secretary of the CPI, and Depankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of CPI(ML), echoed the same sentiment, calling for the ousting of the Modi-led regime to preserve the constitution and its democratic and secular characteristics.
The massive turnout in the March 3rd rally signifies a new chapter in the ongoing battle to safeguard the country, its constitution, and its secular character. The resounding call is clear: "We shall fight, we shall win." Both print and electronic media extensively covered this mega rally, causing unease among the BJP, leading them to initiate a divisive and slanderous propaganda campaign – a hallmark of their agenda.
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