Bihar Bandh by Left Parties against Muzaffarpur Gang Rape Incident
The Bihar bandh called by Left parties on 2 August 2018 against the rape and sexual violence at the Muzaffarpur Girls Home and many other places in Bihar nurtured and protected by the ruling powers, was had a massive impact. Widespread effect of the bandh was seen at Patna, Shahabad, Siwan, Jehanabad, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Arwal, Gaya, Katihar, Nawada and other districts. In Patna a joint march of the CPI (ML), CPI, CPI-M, SUCI (C), RSP and Forward Bloc started from the South Gate of Gandhi Maidan. Activists from dalit rights organizations as well as people from different sections of society also came out in large numbers for the bandh.
The bandh supporters marched through Ramgulam Chowk towards Dak Bangalow Chowk but the administration tried to stop them forcibly at JP Golambar. Undaunted by police action the bandh supporters marched resolutely on and jammed the Dak Bangalow Chowk. A meeting was held here addressed by Left leaders and also by leaders from RJD, Samajwadi Party, RLD, HAM and Rashtriya Jagaran Party.
Speaking on the occasion CPI(ML) Politburo member Kunal said that in the matter of institutional sexual violence Nitish Kumar and his partner the BJP are equally responsible. There are reports coming in of 11 women going missing from a Swadhar Home in Muzaffarpur run under the aegis of the Central government. The BJP cannot shy away from direct responsibility in these cases. AIARLA General Secretary Dhirendra Jha said that the condition of all Girls’ Homes is extremely pathetic and they have become centres of oppression and rape under the protection of the ruling powers, which is extremely shameful. The government is deliberately withholding the publication of the TISS report. AIPWA General Secretary Meena Tiwari said that it is due to the pressure of the movement that the government has bowed down and agreed to a CBI enquiry, but our demand is that there should be an HC monitored CBI enquiry into all Girls’ Homes, Sudhar Homes and Alpawas Homes. The leaders demanded the immediate arrest of ministers Manju Verma and Suresh Sharma. They pointed out that along with violence against women, there is also increasing violence against dalits and the poor. The Nitish-BJP government is carrying out a campaign in Bihar to evict the poor, and dalits are being subjected to inhuman atrocities.
AISA and AISF activists organized the bandh in Patna University and held a march at Ashok Rajpath. All colleges including Patna College, Darbhanga House, Science College, and BN College remained closed. Shops at Ashok Rajpath remained shut.
Rail lines and roads across Bihar remained jammed and vehicular traffic came to a standstill. RYA and Bhagat Singh Yuva Brigade activists jammed the Sampark Kranti Express. Lohiya Chowk in Benipatti was jammed and about 100 bandh supporters including CPI(ML) Block Secretary Shyam Pandit were arrested. Ambedkar Chowk in Behata (Madhubani) was jammed for hours and here also about 100 activists were arrested. In Katihar bandh supporters led by MLA Com. Mahboob Alam organized a rally and courted arrest. Bandh supporters led by MLA Com. Sudama Prasad jammed the Patna-Ara NH 30 at the Karman Tola bus depot. Former MLA Com. Amarnath Yadav and CPI(ML) District Secretary Naeemuddin Ansari led the bandh supporters who jammed JP Chowk in Siwan, held a rally through the city followed by a meeting. Kauakol Bazaar in Nawada remained shut for the bandh. 500 bandh supporters were arrested. Similar situation was witnessed in all centers of the state with people coming in huge numbers expressing their anger against the heinous crime on innocent girls by those enjoying the impunity of the Bihar government.
