Bhajapa Harao, Desh Bachao: Opposition Rally in Patna, Bihar

Almost two lakh people from all over Bihar gathered in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan today, for the ‘Bhajapa harao, desh bachao’ (Defeat BJP, save country) rally organised by Communist Party of India (CPI). Political parties including Indian National Congress, Loktantrik Janata Dal, Hindustani Awam Morcha, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) took part in the rally.

Tents were erected at Gandhi Maidan to accommodate the people who came from regions outside Patna to take part in the rally. More than 50,000 had gathered at the location by Wednesday night. Facilities for drinking water and toilets were arranged, and health clinics were set up at the venue.

The focus of the rally was the anti-people policies of the central and state government, and the communal violence taking place all over the country. The protest was organised in the wake of the recent developments like hikes in petrol-diesel prices, the Rafale scam, the ever increasing attacks and violence against women, Dalits, and other minorities. The demands included guarantee of education, proper healthcare facilities, and employment for all.

The rally was addressed by Congress National Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, former CM of Bihar and founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) Jitan Ram Manjhi, former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, General Secretary of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) Annie Raja, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad, and General Secretary of CPI (ML) Dipankar Bhattacharya among others.

“When the farmers raise their voices for their lands, for better prices of their crops, the government calls them Pakistani, and threatens to send them to Pakistan. When students like Kanhaiya Kumar from JNU asks about their stipends and scholarships, when the youth all over the country raises their voices, the Sangh family and their media channels brand them as anti-nationals,” said CPI (M) leader Mohammed Salim, while addressing the rally.

Annie Raja, General Secretary of NFIW and senior leader of CPI talked about women’s issues. “The people of the ruling party are showing support for mob-lynchers, rapists. This has never happened before in this country. Women all over the country are being molested, harassed, raped, but the government is doing nothing,” she said while addressing the crowd.

The rally ended with sloganeering by the assembled protesters, and with the promise to keep this fight alive until BJP has been removed from the government.