Farmers of Khagaria are on war path against grabbing their fertile lands

Patna / Khagari, June 6: 

Parroting the popular slogans like ‘good governance’, and ‘development with justice’ the JDU-BJP government headed by Nitish Kumar in Bihar is talking for launching the schemes of agricultural map for the progress and happiness of farmers. But in reality the clique of ministers, MLAs and officials is utterly violating the norms and laws of their own government by using administrative power.

At Mansi under the Khagaria district each and every ploy is being used to provide fertile agricultural and residential land to private companies grabbing from the farmers. In the name of growth centre under BIADA (Bihar Industrial Area Authority) the process of land acquisition was started in 1986-87 at Mansi. But K. K. Pathak, the then director of BIADA and Mayank Badbade, District Collector of Khagaria ordered to nullify the process of land acquisition after getting the complaints of irregularities in the process of acquisition and farmers’ protest. In spite of that the Land Acquisition Officer, Khagaria issued the order of losing the ownership of farmers on their lands utterly violating the article 11 A of Land Acquisition Act and the order of K. K. Pathak and Mayank Badbade. This wrongful act was done only to get position of the land by Pristine Logistics and Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd., patronized by the leaders of ruling alliance in Bihar. But the farmers are committed to wage relentless struggle under the banner of Upjau Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsha Samiti (Struggle Committee to Save Fertile Lands ) for saving their fertile and residential land. The SUCI (Communist) and other left and democratic parties have extended their support to the struggling farmers. The leaders of different left and democratic parties including Arun Kumar Singh, senior leader, SUCI (C), Satya Narayan Singh, former MLA of CPI and renowned social activist and Magsaysay awardees Dr. Sandip Pandey took part along with the farmers in protest march from Khutia to Khagaria Collectariat and expressed their solidarity with the struggling farmers in the meeting organized after the march at Khagaria Collectariat. In the mean time the goons of Pristine Company fatally attacked the farmers several times injuring dozens of farmers among them three farmers and a seventy five year old lady are under treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital for months. The district administration is silent over the demand of arresting the named accused involved in attack. Not only this, without circulating advertisements in media the Company is cheating lacks of rupees from unemployed farmers in broad day light in the name of providing job. The innocent unemployed are being used to attack the farmers struggling to save their lands. In spite of giving written information of the incidents, no action has been taken against the cheaters and attackers.

 
In such a situation under the joint banner of Sarvadaliya Samiti, Khagaria and Upjau Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsha Samiti a massive dharna was held before District Magistrate, Khagaria on June 6, 2013. The massive dharna demanded stopping of grabbing lands of farmers in unjustified and unlawful manner, arresting of named accused involved in the attack of farmers, probing of the move of providing jobs, withdrawing of false cases implicated against the protesters, removable of the camp of Pristine Company from lands of farmers and immediate release of the protesters including Kamal Kishore Yadav, Convener, Upjau  Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsha Samiti. The dharna was presided over by Sita Ram Ray and conducted by SUCI (Communist) leader Jitendra Kumar. In course of addressing the dharna Arun Kumar Singh, senior leader, SUCI (C) urged the farmers to take lessons from the struggle and victory of the movement of farmers of Nandigram and Singur in their struggle and to build up mighty and sustained movement against grabbing the fertile lands by unjust and unlawful way by the clique of ministers, MLAs and officials. Among others who spoke on the occasion were former MLA Satya Narayan Singh and SUCI (C) State Committee Member Indradeo Ray. After the dharna was over a delegation met to DM and submitted him a memorandum of seven point’s charter of demands.   

Citizen convention to get civil amenities in Patna

Patna, June 4: 

When the common people are reeling under acute price rise, the government and its different agencies/institutions are increasing the burden of taxes. The common people of

From Left: Naresh Kumar, Anamika & Jagadish Prasad

Bihar and of its capital Patna have the same fate. Recently the holding tax has been increased two times byPatna Municipal Corporation.  Not only this, the registry fee has been enhanced by increasing the government rate of lands. The rates for water supply and cleanness has been increased. Even the holding tax has been imposed on unused lands. On the other hand the record of Patna Municipal Corporation is very bad regarding the cleanness of the city, maintenance of parks, arrangement of street lights, supply of drinking water and other civil amenities. No proper arrangement is there in different wards and localities to collect garbage. Dumps of garbage and rubbish are  commonly visible in the major localities, lanes and roads. The announcement of cleaning of underground drains, open drains and chambers goes wind the winds. A scene of hell in rainy season is quite visible in major localities. Even Patna Municipal Corporation and Patna Jal Parshad is not efficient in proper supply of water. In night, practically there is no street lights arrangement even on the main roads and lanes. Majority of parks are in worst condition due to lack of sufficient staff. No arrangements are made for the prevention of rapid growing of mosquitoes. Municipal Corporation is suffering from the acute shortage of permanent employees.

Anamika addressing the citizens

The citizens of Patna have started organizing under the  banner of Nagrik Sangharsha Samiti (Citizens Struggle Committee) against the anti democratic and anti people steps of Patna Municipal Corporation. At first a dharna was staged at Dinkar Roundabout, Nala Road to press demands. And on 4^th June, 2013 a Citizen’s Convention was organized at IMA Hall.

Sadhana Mishra, Secretar, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee and Suryakar Jitendra, Member, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee addressed the convention among others. They said, “The governments proclaiming themselves as public welfare state are shirking the social responsibilities gradually and are inclining to submit those all to private owners. As a result majority of people are condemned to live under utter poverty and destitution. In the name of ‘good governance’ and ‘development with justice’ the state government too following the same anti people and pro capitalist policies of privatization, liberalization and globalization.” The speakers observed that the total apathy and indifferent attitude of Government, Municipal Corporation and administration towards availing the civil amenities to citizens and much activeness in increasing the burden of taxes left no other alternative but the struggle against it. The convention was addressed by many social and political activists along with some ward councilors. All the speakers appealed the citizens and stressed the need to develop united and sustained movement against the anti people steps and for availing civil amenities. The main resolution of the convention was moved by Mohan Prasad, Convener, Nagrik Sangharsha Samiti and conducted by a 5 member presidium including Anamika, Member, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee.

Meeting on Marx Birth Anniversary

Muzaffarpur, May5:

Under the aegis of SUCI (Communist) Muzaffarpur District Committee a meeting was organized on the occasion of Karl Marx birth anniversary on Sunday. Addressing the meeting Ranjeet Dhar, Member, Polit Bureau, SUCI (Communist) said that capitalism-imperialism was not able to bring the human civilization forward. All the capitalist-imperialist countries were suffering from acute economic and cultural crisis. On the one hand the lives of the toiling people, the majority of population were getting worse, but a handful of capitalists-industrialists were making huge profit exploiting the common people on the other.  Discussing on the history of dialectical materialism and scientific socialism, he said that the history of human civilization was the history of class struggle. This history showed that the society would go in the classless society communism overthrowing the capitalism, where there would be no exploitation of man by man. “Those who produce are starving. The attacks on democratic values are increasing. All the social relations are breaking, humanity is dying. The attacks and atrocities on women are accentuating,” said the veteran leader of the party. 

Addressing Arun Kumar Singh, On dais from right Ranjeet Dhar, Shiv Shankar & R S Thakur

Terming the philosophy of dialectical materialism as the greatest philosophy of this era, the polit bureau member urged the people assembled to accept and assimilate in their lives this great philosophy and play their significant role in the real development of human civilization.

The meeting was presided over by Arun Kumar Singh, Senior Member, SUCI (Communist), Bihar State Committee. Shiv Shankar, Secretary, SUCI (Communist), Bihar State Committee; Ram Surat Thakur, Senior Member, SUCI (Communist), Bihar State Committee and Arjun Kumar, Secretary, SUCI (Communist), Muzaffarpur District Committee were present on the dais. Many intellectuals of the city and hundreds of party workers and supporters participated in the meeting. The meeting was started with international and ended with song composed on Shibdas Ghosh, the great Marxist thinker and founding General Secretary of SUCI (Communist). Some revolutionary songs were also sung in the programme.    

Chief Minister agreed with the demands of villagers to stop the construction of asbestos factory

Patna, February 14:

Leaders of left parties and Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jan Sangharsh Committee (KBJBJC) met the Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar at his residence at 1, Anne Marg in Patna in the evening hours of on February 13, 2013 on the issue of setting up hazardous asbestos factory in the vicinity of densely populated area of Panapur, Mahua under Vaishali district on fertile agricultural land. In course of dialogue with the leaders of the movement the Chief Minister agreed with the justification of the movement against construction of hazardous asbestos factory rather than the fabricated stories concocted by the factory management and the stooges. The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding white asbestos based plants should be closed in public interest keeping public health in mind and dismissal of fake case registered by Utkal Management.

The gate of asbestos factory without any signboard

The Chief Minister promised to take necessary pro people action and advised them to meet the chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board. On the next day the delegation of the leaders of the movement met the Chairman and got assurance from him to take necessary steps. The delegation consists of Arun Kumar Singh from Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)[ SUCI (C)], Arvind Sinha from Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPI (ML)], Pawan Sharma from Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation [CPI (ML)] Liberation, Ram Jiwan Singh from Communist Party of India (CPI) and Ajeet Kumar Singh, Convener, Asheshwar Sharma, Prof. Sanjay Kumar and Lalit Kumar Ghosh from Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jan Sangharsh Committee (KBJBJC).    

The leaders of the movement termed it a grand victory of the farmers and villagers of Panapur. This people’s victory shows that legitimate demands of people can be achieved by the united struggle.

Demonstration Before Chief Minister Against Setting up Hazardous Asbestos Factory

Patna. January 16:

The villagers of Chaksultan Rampur Rajdhari near Panapur under Goraul block of Vaishali district took out a huge march on the streets of state capital Patna on Wednesday against setting up asbestos factory in their locality. Under the banner of Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jan Sangharsh Committee (KBJBJC) the villagers in thousands marched in the city as a part of their ongoing agitation against the construction of hazardous plant in densely populated area on agricultural land. It is note worthy that after the villagers Mahadharna of June 14, 2012, the district administration had put a stay on the construction of the factory. When the construction started again on December 16, 2012, the villagers blocked the Mahua-Samastipur road for 9 hours to express their protest against the proposed white asbestos plant of Utkal Asbestos Limited (UAL)

 The well-decorated procession of villagers started from Gandhi Maidan. When the huge procession was blocked by the administration at R-Block, a massive meeting was organized there and a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister. The memorandum demanded: 1) White asbestos based plant should be closed in public interest keeping public health in mind, 2) Register case against the management of Utkal Asbestos company sought for hatching a conspiracy against villagers and protesters and 3) Withdraw of fake cases lodged on the protesters.

Leading intellectuals of the capital supported the movement of the villagers to save health, environment, water and agriculture. Not only this, the leaders of left/democratic parties, including the trade union leaders also participated in the demonstration to express solidarity with the villagers struggle. Addressing the huge gathering the speakers said that the resolutions of WHO and ILO in 2005 and 2006 had called for the elimination of asbestos. They termed such toxic factories as anti-people and anti-public health, which must be banned as per the recommendations of the WHO. The shady designs of the UAL company against the villagers and protesters to protect its hazardous plant at the cost of villagers’ health was condemned by the speakers who spoke at the demonstration. Besides Ajeet Kumar Singh, Asheshar Sharma, Sanjay Kumar Khet from KBJBJSC the gathering was addressed by Priyadarshi from Jan Mukti Sangharsh Vahini; Satya Narain Singh, former MLA and leader, CPI; Lallan Chaudhary, President, CPIM’s Kisan Sabha; Shiv Shankar, State Secretary, SUCI (C); K D Yadav and Dhirendra Jha from CPIL (ML) Liberation; Arvind Sinha from CPIL (ML), Amerika Mahto from Forward Block; Vijay Kumar Chaudhary from MCPI (U); Satish  from Communist Centre of India; Balmukund Singh from Krantikari Forward Block; Gajnafar Nawab from AITUC; Ganesh Shankar Singh from CITU; Arun Kumar Singh, President, AIUTUC;  Mahendra Yadav and Ashish Ranjan from National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) and Gopal Krishna of ToxicsWatch Alliance, Pushpraj and Mona Jha.