People's Democracy

A WAVE of enthusiasm gripped the working masses in Nasik and they heaved a sigh of relief when the Mumbai High Court released on bail Dr D L Karad, secretary of the Maharashtra state CITU, and 9 others on December 18, in less than five minutes after the application was moved. In an unprecedented and utterly shocking manner, the sessions court of Nasik had sentenced all of them to life imprisonment in a case filed by the Ambad police station in Nasik.

As reported in our December 23 issue, the police had lodged against Dr Karad and others a riot case in Navbharat Industry where later a workman had died incidentally. The incident took place in the year 1997.

The divisional bench of the High Court, based on Justice V G Palshikar and Justice Parkar, admitted the appeal based on the following main points:

1. Dr Karad and others were in no way connected with the said case,
2. There is no evidence whatsoever,
3. The verdict is improper and not in accordance with law.

The court then released Dr Karad and all the nine others and Dr Karad on bail. Advocates Chari, Mundergi and others pleaded the case in the High Court while Advocate Jayant Jaibhave, a CITU sympthasier, rendered them all cooperation.

Coming out of jail, Dr Karad said his enthusiasm to work had redoubled after seeing different trade unions and thousands of workmen showering so much of affection on him and his comrades. He said he was overwhelmed to see the amount of trust the workers reposed in them.

Talking to the media, Dr Karad said he was in no doubt about getting justice. But the industrialists must better understand that there need be cooperation between unions and them, and that they must better avoid a confrontation.

Earlier, a crowd of over 2000 workmen gave Dr Karad and others a grand ovation in the Central Jail premises. The whole gathering was overwhelmed with joy when an old lady comrade, Smt Anuradha Malusare, garlanded Dr Karad. The latter’s wife Vasudha Karad was among the relatives who were present throughout.

From outside the jail gate, CITU supporters took out a colourful procession when Dr Karad was made to stand in an open, red-coloured and beautifully decorated jeep. The procession lasted for nearly two hours and a half and passed through important parts of the city, covering a distance of around 15 km. Loud slogans like Lal Bavate Ki Jai and Dr Karad Ko Lal Salam rent the air. Gulal was sprinkled on the procession all the way and the bursting fire-crackers attracted the attention of one and all in the city.

The procession culminated in a big meeting when it reached the CITU union office in Satpur. CPI(M) MLA J P Gavit said it was high time the workers understood the role played by certain political parties which are trying to break the unity of workers and the unions of fighting men. We have to resolutely fight back the attacks being launched by the capitalist class, he said, adding that the release of Dr Karad and other comrades was a befitting reply to the conspirators.

This was thus a heart-throbbing procession and rally, and would be remembered in Nasik for a long time to come.