People's Democracy

JHARKHAND witnessed an unprecedented bandh on April 16, 2002 at the call given by the Left parties in support of the countrywide strike by workers in public sector. The rural poor, workers in private sector, the government employees – everyone responded to the call and turned the strike into a successful bandh. This is politically significant as Jharkhand is one of the three states where BJP has been ruling with the support of its NDA allies.

The majority of the Jharkhand population is directly or indirectly dependent on the well being of the central PSUs in the state, especially the major ones coal, steel industries, mines etc. When the trade unions gave call for countrywide public sector strike on April 16, the Left parties in the state namely CPI(M), CPI, Forward Block, RSP decided to enlarge this into a massive people’s action against privatisation, disinvestment and dismantling of PSUs. Being resorted to by the Vajpayee government.

The CPI(M)’s state secretariat decided to mobilise the rural poor in the solidarity action to the striking workers by resorting to Rasta Roko and Rail Roko movement on April 16. 2002. The recent state conference of the party decided to take up the issue of defending public sector in the state as one of the priority issues.

CITU, Jharkhand state committee gave a call to the private sector workers also to join the strike on the same day as they were also seriously affected by these economic policies.

The combined effect of these decisions was seen in the success of the bandh and strike. The state government employees, bank and insurance employees joined the strike in large numbers. Three days relay strike of the medical and sales representatives in Jharkhand and Bihar also began on April 16.

More than 250 CPI(M) leaders and functionaries at Pakur, Dumka, Giridih, Dhanbad, Gomia and Hazaribagh were arrested. Large number of CPI(M) members and supporters from the rural areas resorted to Rasta Roko – Rail Roko agitation in several parts of the state. The rail services were affected, long distance buses were off the road, shops and commercial establishments were closed. Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand wore a deserted look. Schools, colleges were closed and local transport remained paralysed. Apart from Ranchi, successful bandh reports have come from Muri, Silli, Patrahatu, Sonahatu, Tamar and Rahe in Ranchi district. Reports of successful bandh have also come from Pakur, Sahebganj, Godda, Dumka, Jantara, Dhandabd, Giridih, Bokaro, Kodeerma, Hazaribagh, Lohardaga, Latehar, Palamau, Garhwa, Singhum and Saraikela districts. Due to the bandh, the chief minister Babulal Marandi had to take a helicopter from Bokaro to reach Ranchi.

It is also significant to note that large number of tribal youths including women, came out on the streets of Ranchi to enforce the bandh call despite one of the biggest tribal festival ‘Sahrool’ falling on the same day.

The eight demands, on which the Left parties gave call for bandh, included both national and state issues. Defence of the public sector, against saffronisation of education and other instruments of governance , for removal of Narendra Modi government; against draconian POTA; etc.

The state issues included the curbing of high level corruption and criminalisation; for holding of early panchayat elections on party symbols and for restoration of tribal lands etc.

The CPI(ML) had also simultaneously given a call for Jharkhand bandh on different demands.

In a significant development, all middle and small scale industries in Adityapur and Ghamaria area of Jamshedpur remained totally closed as they supported the demands of the strike particularly against liberalisation policy which affected their industries also even while their workers resorted to strike.

The people of Jharkhand are getting rapidly disillusioned after their hopes for a better life with the formation of new Jharkhand state were dashed. Large-scale discontentment against the Vajpayee government at the centre and Babulal Marandi government in the state created favourable ground for the spontaneous support in this bandh. At this crucial juncture the main opposition party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha betrayed the peoples hopes and joined BJP bandwagon when Rajya Sabha seat was given to JMM president Sibu Soren. At this critical juncture, except creating some noise, Congress remained mute spectators. The Left parties stepped in and gave lead to the people. This bandh, therefore, apart from giving strength to the workers in the form of solidarity, also showed an alternative path to the people to move forward. It is a beginning for Left parties in building up an alternative in the state even while fighting Left sectarianism and extremism in Jharkhand.