Demonstration Demanding Employment

RAISING the slogan ‘Give employment or the right to carry coal’, the CPIML took out a protest march on 19 February against the increasing oppression of the workers carrying coal by the police administration. A demonstration was held outside the police station. The protest programme was led by CPIML MLA Rajkumar Yadav and other leaders. Hundreds of protesters who were accompanied by a convoy of bullock carts, first gathered outside the CPIML office and then marched to the police station raising slogans against the police administration. Addressing the protesters, MLA Rajkumar Yadav said that the failure of the BJP government has led to rise in unemployment, because of which the people are being forced to find ways to support themselves. However the police administration is oppressing them. Several poor earn their living by carrying coal, sand, stones, etc. and if the local administration cannot provide them an alternative employment, then it cannot stop them from doing this. Rajkumar also asked voters to vote for the CPIML and teach the Koderma MP and the district MLAs from the BJP a lesson for failing to provide employment and instead victimising people. He also appealed people to join the ‘Employment Guarantee Sankalp Sabha’ on 22 February.

Also addressing the protest demonstration, Gandeya and Jamua leaders comrades Ashok Paswan and Rajesh Yadav said that several leaders of the ruling party and other parties are involved in the stealing of coal. However, whenever there is an action in the name of stopping coal theft, it is only the poor who are targeted. This hypocrisy will not be tolerated. If the government cannot ensure employment for the poor, it has no moral right to attack the self-employment of the poor. Several other leaders also addressed the protest demonstration demanding that all atrocities on the helpless poor forced to carry coal.