Today, a state level and mass meeting was organised at the sprawling Gandhi Maidan at Patna by CPI(M), mainly demanding implementation of land reform measures, against communalism, against division of Bihar and other demands.

Thousands of poor agricultural workers landless, poor peasants including large number of women, tribals, dalits and others marched under the banner of CPI(M), went through exhibition road, station road, fraser road and them reached to Gandhi Maidan. The rally participants started reaching from 22nd March itself.

To sabotage party’s rally and Surjeet’s mass meeting and for the purpose of their narrow sectarian politics, BJP-Samta combine gave Bihar bandh call on 23rd March itself, alleged in a press statement by Bihar state secretariat of CPI(M).

But all attempts of BJP-Samta combine failed when thousands of rally participants started arriving by rail and road from early morning, despite section 144 promulgated by administration at Patna looking into Bihar bandh call, CPI(M) brought out the rally on the street and condemned the BJP – Samta’s attempt. Preparation for rally was going on for long time by holding block level meeting, followed by Jeep jathas addressing hundreds of meeting throughout the state.

The rally adopted resolution moved by the state secretary of CPI(M), Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthy, who was also presiding over public meeting. The resolution condemned the mass – killing of Jehanabad district, conveyed heart felt condolence to bereaved families. The resolution stated that the landlords of private army, Ranvir Sena and Naxalites of various hues, operating in central Bihar resorted to killings of innocent people including women and children and trying to convert it as an undeclared caste war. The resolution condemned this casteist approach of the Ranvir Sea and extremist hues.

The main issue of unfulfilled land reforms, wage to the agricultural workers, economic and social upliftment of down-trodden have been relegated back, brining the caste division in the forefront dividing the poor-peasants and agricultural workers weakening their united struggle, which all bourgeoisie-landlord parties are taking advantage of, the resolution stated.

To corrupt undemocratic functioning and misrule of 9 years of Laloo-Rabri government have been taken advantage by the communal and fascist BJP and Sangh Parivar, creating havoc in Bihar including misuse of Article 356 to impose president’s rule in Bihar, the resolution stated.

Even after 52 years of independence Bihar remained backward in economic and social development and its vast peasantry facing poverty and hunger, Surjeet said. The divisive forces are active to divide the people, and divert the attention, Surjeet said. While all bourgeoisie landlord parties are raising issues, for the purpose of grabbing power, it is only the CPI(M) and the left who are resolutely fighting for the People’s cause to bring fundamental changes through land revolution. The bourgeoisie-landlord parties are even trying to give wrong message about the great contribution of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Surjeet said. He called upon people of Bihar, not to misled by the propaganda of bourgeoisie –landlord parties and fight for fundamental changes including land-reform.

When the left and secular parties forced the issue against the presidents rule in Bihar, the Congress was compelled to cast their vote against it. RSS should never be allowed to take over the rule of the state through misrules of Art. 356. RSS – Sangh Pariwar and BJP shall not be allowed to divide the country’s unity, Surjeet said.

Atal Behari Vajpayee government at the centre is bound to fall, because they do not have any programme for the people. One of the BJP leaders was imprisoned during British regime. They have no feeling or commitment or country’s independence.

The meeting was also addressed by Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury. He raised 3 issues of present struggle in Bihar i.e. for land reforms; for economic development of the state and relief to the poor and in defence of secularism which remains the main tradition and foundation of Bihar through the history, Sitaram said. He greeted rally participants for defeating commualists conspiracy of Sabotaging today’s rally through Bihar bandh. Red flag cannot be stopped from their onward march in Bihar or any where in the world despite media and bourgeoisie propaganda, Sitaram said. Social Justice cannot be confined to reservation only. It is the economic and social upliftment combined together through which social justice can be guaranteed. Even Mandal Commission stated that social justice at the end depends on land reform. But the casteist forces are raising the issue of social justice only for political purpose, Yechury said. He called upon all toiling and poor sections of Bihar to remain united, and fight against the common enemy.