Report

The Indian Social Forum 2023, part of World Social Forum was held in Patna from December 2-4, 2023. Speaking at the Inaugural session of the forum titled Inaugural Plenary “Democracy with Dignity, Justice and Peace” on December 2, Com. Dipankar, General Secretary of CPIML Liberation said that Indian Social Forum has always played a vital role in the democratic moorings of the country and it is great to see ISF being organised again after a period of gap.

CPIML, extending its solidarity with the ongoing protest of candidates who are victims of UP teacher recruitment reservation scam said that the government must ensure justice without delay. CPIML condemning the silence of Yogi government said that thousands of candidates are continuously organising protest demonstrations at Eco Garden, Lucknow against the scam in 69,000 teacher recruitment, but the government is refusing to listen to demands of the victims. 

A Save Constitution - Save Democracy March organised by AIKM, AICCTU and AIARLA in Patna, Bihar on November 26 commentating  the 74th Anniversary of the adoption of Constitution of India.  

Three-day 'Mazdoor-Kisan Mahapadav' (workers and farmers' grand assembly) in Delhi and every state capital ended today with spirited participation of tens of thousands of activists across the country.  On the 3rd anniversary of historic farmers' movement of 2020 against the three pro-corporate farm laws, workers and farmers' unions had jointly given call for a three-day sit-in protest (26th- 28th Nov 2023) before all the Raj Bhawan at state capitals. 

Protests were held in many districts of Uttar Pradesh on 16 November demanding women’s safety under Modi-Yogi regime, dignity and justice for dalits and instituting GSCASH as well as SC-ST cells in universities in the state. 

More than 200 hours have passed since 41 workers were trapped hundreds of feet below the surface following a part of under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed on November 12. The 4.5 km long planned tunnel is part of the controversial Rs. 1200 crore Char Dham Highway project in the fragile Himalayan region.

The recent All India Agricultural Rural Labour Association (AIARLA) in a statement noted that the Socio-Economic report of caste survey presents an alarming picture of poverty in Bihar, National President and MLA of AIARLA Satyadev Ram, National General Secretary Dhirendra Jha, State President and MLA Virendra Gupta, State President and MLA Manoj Manzil and State Secretary Shatrughan Sahni said that the Mahagathbandhan government should prepare a detailed action plan to take Bihar out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

Raising serious concern on the language used by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in the Assembly while commenting on women’s education and population control,  AIPWA in a statement on November 8 said that incident has given rise to an uncomfortable situation.

Protest marches and demonstration were organised across the country from November 7 to 10, 2023, as part of the three day united call given by CPI(ML) and other left parties. On November 8, a massive march was taken out from Mahajati Sadan by the left parties in Kolkata. The march witnessed thousands rallying against the on-going Israel’s genocidal war on the people of Gaza and called for immidiate ceasefire.

A massive protest rally against loot, arbitrary recoveries and harassment of poor by microfinance companies in the state was organized by Mazdoor Mukti Morcha and CPI (ML) in Fatehgarh Chudi Mandi in Gurdaspur district on November 6, 2023. Addressing the rally, Com. Gurmeet Singh said that in the rising unemployment has pushed people into the debt trap and microfinance companies are exploiting the people by charging exorbitant interest rate. There are arbitrary high file charges and deduction of the first installment at time of loan disbursement.