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. 

Seminar on 'Hooch deaths, State Liquor Policy and People’s Resistance'

Patna, January 13:

Under the auspices of Bihar unit of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) a seminar on ‘Hooch deaths, State Liquor Policy and People’s Resistance’ was organized at Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Patna on Sunday.

Left to Right: Shahid Kamal, Prof. Daisy Narain, Fr. Philip manthra, Prof. M. N. Karna

Presenting the base paper of the seminar Prof. Vinay Kumar Kanth, Former President of Bihar PUCL said that deaths due to consuming illicit liquor had acquired monstrous proportions in the recent months in the state of Bihar. He asserted that the state policy on liquor consciously promotes enhancement of the sale of liquor rather than curbing it. With the help of data and figures he showed how the revenue from the sales of liquor is growing by leaps and bounds. Referring the Article 47 of the Indian Constitution which directs the State to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living, and in particular endeavour to bring about prohibition and the newly inserted Article 21 A which enshrines right to education in the age bracket 6 to 14 years as a fundamental right, he termed the Government of Bihar a gross violator of the spirit of the constitution. In course of telling the harmful effects of liquor on the people in general and on the people coming from lower class or dalit-mahadalit communities in particular he condemned the newspapers report in which the Chief Minister defended the mushrooming of liquor shops and liquor policy by arguing that 'how can bicycles be given to girls if more money is not available'. “Bootleggers and several liquor sellers enjoy the patronage of a group of mafia dons, some political leaders, and often some members of police force or even civil administration,” he commented referring the general impression of the local people in most parts of the State.

A Section of audience

It is worth mentioning that after series of reports appeared in media claiming several deaths in different parts of the state Bihar PUCL constituted three enquiry teams. These teams conducted enquiries in Muzaffarpur, Ara and Gaya and prepared their reports. Besides the field level enquiries it was thought necessary to take a deeper look at the underlying situation which has led to such a rise in deaths, including an analysis of the policies being pursued by the state government having a bearing upon sale and consumption of liquor in the state. And all these generated the idea to hold this seminar.

Prof. Vinay Kumar Kanth addressing

Addressing the seminar Hind Keshari Yadav, former Minister of Bihar appealed the people gathered there to intensify the movement for the prohibition of liquor in the state. He demanded the CBI enquiry regarding the deaths due to consuming illicit liquor. Prof. Daisy Narain, Vice President, Bihar PUCL, Prof. M. N. Karna, Shahid Kamal, Vice President, Bihar PUCL, Arun Kumar Singh, Senior leader, SUCI (Communist), Kishori Das, Ex-General Secretary, Bihar PUCL, Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), Bihar, Sajina and Sister from Mahila Network, Akhtar Nehal, C. A. Priyadarshi, Arun Kumar, Nageshwar Prasad, Ex-General Secretary, Bihar PUCL, Rupesh Kumar and Mahendra Yadav addressed the seminar. They all held the general perception that local authorities have direct or indirect interest in manufacturing and distribution of liquor, which is a highly lucrative business. All the speakers dealt upon the disastrous effects of consumption of liquor and stressed the need for mass mobilization and opinion building against this evil. They all demanded adequate compensation for the keens of the victims due to consuming spurious liquor. The seminar was presided over by Fr. Philip Manthra, President, Bihar PUCL. Praveen Kumar ‘Madhu’ welcome the audience and guests while Rajkumar Chaudhary conducted the seminar.

SUCI (C) Protests Increase of Rail Fare, Burnt PM's Effigy

Patna, January 10:

The SUCI (Communist) protests the decision of the UPA government to raise the Railway passenger fare to be affected from 21 January. The SUCI (Communist) activists raised the thunderous slogans against this anti people move of the Congress led Central Govt. at Patna Junction Roundabout and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

After burning the effigy a street corner meeting was held. Addressing the meeting Com. Arun Kumar Singh, Senior Member, Bihar State Committee, SUCI (Communist) said that the decision of the UPA government to raise the Railway passenger fare was totally unwarranted and anti-people. The move of rising fares just before a month of railway budget was out and out undemocratic. “Administrative expenditure, if risen, is not because the passengers are paying less as fare, but for the top heavy administration and rampant corruption which could be remedied by the govt.”, he asserted. Sharing the experiences he said that even after this rise in fare, passengers welfare, safe and accident free journey would not be ensured. The promises of the ministers like previous occasions would remain in paper only.  

Among others who spoke on the occasion were Com. Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, Patna District Committee, SUCI (Communist), Com. Suryakar Jitendra, Com. Rajkumar Chaudhary and Com. Anil Kumar, all Members, Patna District Committee, SUCI (Communist). The speakers said that the burden of the failure of the govt. was being again shifted to the shoulders of the common people. They termed this anti-people move of the government shameful adding that the even local train passengers were not spared. They strongly criticized the decision of the increase of Railway passenger fare and demanded its immediate rollback.

Movement Continues Against Asbestos Factory in Mahua

Patna/Hazipur:

Hazardous asbestos factory is being built in the fertile agricultural field in the vicinity of densely populated residential area at Rampur Rajdhari Chaksultan (Panapur) under Goraul bloc in Vaishali district, Bihar. The Utkal Asbestos Ltd. Company has misled the villagers by telling them that a medicine factory will be set up. It also misled the Union Environment Ministry through its Environment Impact Assessment report saying that the land is “barren” and there are no residents near the proposed site of the hazardous factory. But the pictures say another story. The well ploughed and irrigated land along side the under constructed factory shows the utter falsehood of the company management.

Fertile agricultural land just along side the wall of the factory.

Leaders of left parties observing the factory site.

The villagers are fighting against setting up this hazardous factory for long. The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) inspired the farmers and villagers to get organise and lunch a sustained powerful movement against this hazardous factory. They formed ‘Khet Bachao Jiwan Bachao Jan Sangharsha Committee’ as the instrument of their struggle. They organized different protest programmes like dharnas, mass meetings and group meetings. The factory management logged fabricated cases against the protesters. Not only this, the factory management is trying to intimidate the villagers by parading hired goons with firearms. But the farmers are very much confident about their movement and they are ready to face any consequence to achieve their demands i.e. to stop the construction of carcinogenic asbestos factory on their fertile agricultural lands.

Green vegetables on recently irrigated land along side the factory.

Meanwhile almost all left parties working in Bihar extended their support to the ongoing movement of the villages and farmers.  Recently a team of leaders of different left parties visited the factory site and talked with the villagers. The villagers decided to intensify their movement. In order to seek direct invention of Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar in this matter to save their land and livelihood. They have planned to demonstrate before CM on January 16, 2013.

Farmers are irrigating land to grow crops faster.

Are the farmers of the area against development? No, infect, they are not against the development. Rather they want real development, which lead the human race on the path of progress and so they are in favour of eco-friendly, job creating and non-hazardous industry.

Is it justified to set up a hazardous carcinogenic factory in densely populated area on fertile agricultural land? Is it permissible to set up such kind of factory? Is the movement of villagers and farmers of Panapur, Mahua against setting up the factory unjustified and anti development? No, their movement is for real development. So, support their movement.

Protest Against Delhi Gang Rape

Patna :

 Different protest programmes were organised against the gang rape of a girl in Delhi. Protesting against the lathicharge on the protesters in Delhi protesting the sordid incident the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS) took out a protest demonstration in Patna on December 22, 2012 from the statue of Netajee Subhash Chandra Bose and went up to Dakbungalow Crossing, where the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was burnt.  Another protest demonstration was held on December 26, 2012 at Bhoot Nath Area in Patna under the auspices of the AIDSO, AIDYO and AIMSS.

Effigy Burning of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 22 Dec., 2012  

Protest demonstration on December 26, 2012 at Bhoot Nath Area in Patna

After the death of the victim the Patna District Committee of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) organised a silent demonstration on 29th December, 2012 in the state capital. The  demonstration was taken out from the statue of Bhagat Singh and ended at Patna Junction Roundabout traversing through Frazer Road and Dakbungalow Crossing. 

Silent demonstration on 29th December, 2012

Tribute at Dinkar Golamber, Nala Road, Patna on 30th Dec.,2012

On the next day on December 30, 2012, the SUCI (C) paid tribute to the victim by installing martyr column at Dinkar Golamber, Patna. The AIDSO also paid tribute at Patna University and took out a candle march. The candle march was started from Patna College and ended at Bhagat Singh Roundabout traversing through Ashok Rajpath. Responding the call of its All India Committee to observe 3rd January as a Protest Day against criminal negligence of the government towards the minimum safety and security of women and girl students the AIDSO took out a massive protest march from Science College of Patna University. It conversed as huge meeting at Bhagat Singh Chowk, where student leaders addressed the people.

Candle march from Patna College by AODSO

They demanded to formulate Anti-eve-teasing Committee in all the institutions for protection of girl students; appropriate self-defence training through the school-college courses to the girl students; in cases of atrocities on women stringent punishment to the guilty and exemplary punishment to the Police officials, leaders of ruling parties, refusing to accept the complaint, delaying the legal proceedings or providing indulgence to the criminals; banning of all sorts of propaganda of Sex and violence through films, media, advertisements, pornographic websites in internet and vulgar sex-education in schools and banning of liquor pubs, night clubs etc. near educational institutions.This movement will continue until achievement of the demands.