Thousands Protest in Bihar Demanding Immediate Stop on Evictions

Thousands of workers-Dalits-poor under the banner of All India Agricultural and Rural Labour Association (AIARLA) protesting against the demolitions and evictions marched to Bihar Vidhansabha on March 28th. CPIML MLAs also joined the protest in solidarity with their demands against the on-going evictions in Bihar and Modi government’s cutting down of MGNREGA budget.

AIARLA General Secretary Dhirendra Jha said that the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar will have to stop the culture of BJP bulldozers. Bulldozers are destroying the lives and livelihood of poor people in Patna, Rajwara (Darbhanga), Begusarai, Nawada, Buxar, Champaran, Purnia etc. Despite being settled in the place for years, they’re being evicted without any rehabilitation. The government claims that not a single poor person will be uprooted without making alternative arrangements, but they are being rendered homeless everywhere.

AIARLA has demanded that Mahagathbandhan government should immediately stop the evictions and first conduct a survey of all the settlements and accordingly make a new housing law. The protesters also condemned Modi government slashing of budget for MGNREGA leading to stagnation of wages. Noting that Modi government’s corporate cronies like Adani and Ambani are enjoying all tax concessions and benefits, the poor of this country are struggling to make their ends meet as prices of essential commodities and unemployment are skyrocketing.

The AIARLA protest march demanded that the Mahagathbandhan government must cancel the fake electricity bills and reduce the rising prices of electricity. Furthermore, the government must increase the number of days to 200 and daily wages to Rs. 600/- under MGNREGA scheme.