After the formation of the new government in Bihar, protests were held in the entire state today under the joint banner of CPI(ML) and Businessmen Federation against the ongoing bulldozing campaign on Dalit-poor, small businessmen and footpath shopkeepers in the name of encroachment in various parts of the state including the capital Patna. The protesters raised slogans against the Nitish government. These people said, “Give us pamphlets, not bulldozers; give us security of livelihood!” Protested against the government by raising slogans. A huge protest took place at the Gardnibagh protest site in front of the Assembly in the capital Patna. Protest marches were taken out in many districts including Arrah, Buxar, Gaya, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Nawada, Jehanabad, Siwan, Arwal, Motihari and the government was warned to immediately stop the bulldozer operation.
Shopkeepers from these areas of Patna came
Many leaders including former Male MLA Mehboob Alam, Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh, MLC Shashi Yadav, Karakat MLA Arun Singh, Digha candidate Divya Gautam, City Secretary Jitendra Kumar, footpath shopkeepers leader Shehzade Alam and Murtaza Ali were present in the protest program in Patna. A large number of poor and shopkeepers from New Market, Mahavir Mandir, Veena Cinema, South Buddha Park, Digha Haat, Jagdev Path, Kargil Chowk, Chitkohra Bazaar, Manglesh Road to Secretariat and Goria Toli areas of Patna city participated, who have been affected by the bulldozer campaign in recent times.
Mehboob Alam said – BJP should not remain under illusion
Addressing the protest, Mehboob Alam said that the new government of Bihar is dominated by BJP and as soon as he took over the Home Department, Samrat Chaudhary is using bulldozers on the common people. He said that BJP should not be under any illusion – it may have won the elections dishonestly, but the poor of Bihar are conscious about their rights. As long as there is Male, the fight of the poor will continue. He demanded the government to stop the bulldozing campaign immediately and ensure provision of housing for all the needy.
Sandeep said – bribe of Rs 10 thousand was taken
MLA Sandeep Saurabh said that a bribe of Rs 10,000 was taken before the elections and now bulldozers are being used on the poor. This will not be accepted at any cost. The poor of Bihar are ready to fight a long battle for their rights. The NDA government has become the patron of corporates and land mafia, in their interest the poor are being uprooted.
Divya Gautam said- the houses of the poor should remain desolate
Gopal Ravidas said that in Shivanandan Nagar of Nalanda, the home district of the Chief Minister, bulldozers were run on the houses of the poor who had been living for decades. What kind of justice is this? Divya Gautam said that in the name of encroachment in Patna, houses of urban poor are being destroyed everywhere. As soon as the elections are over, the real face of BJP-JDU has come to the fore. We may have lost the elections, but the struggle on public issues will continue. MLC Shashi Yadav said that BJP-JDU should not be arrogant about winning the elections. The whole of Bihar will oppose them. You cannot suppress the voice of the poor.
Retail shopkeepers asked this big question
Leader of footpath vendors Shahzade Alam said that when Patna Municipal Corporation has issued vending identity cards and on the same basis loans ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 have been given under the Pradhan Mantri Swarozgar Yojana, then why are the carts being seized with fines in the name of encroachment? He said that the old condition of Dalits, poor people and shopkeepers who were bulldozed in Patna and other parts of the state should be restored or suitable alternative arrangements should be made available.
