Responding to the call of state-wide ‘Chakka Jam’ issued by CPI(ML), the people of Bihar expressed their anger on December 7 against the spree of kidnapping and murders which continue unabated under the Laloo-Rabri regime, and the mounting number of starvation deaths and the famine-like situation that has arisen due to the drought and floods.
Throughout the state, in almost every district, long columns of stranded vehicles wore testimony to the belligerent mood of the masses against the government’s callousness towards people’s burning problems. Trains were stopped at many spots by the protesting people. In spite of the fact that hundreds of CPI(ML) leaders and cadres were arrested beforehand by the police, people enthusiastically took part in the chakka-jam and made it a success. Highways remained blocked at a number of points in Bhojpur district; railway traffic was halted at Arrah and Banahi stations for several hours.
At Arrah, Party CC member and AIALA General Secretary Rameshwar Prasad was arrested along with over 50 activists. A massive demonstration was also taken out in Arrah town. It was a total blockade in Piro, Tarari and adjoining blocks. In Buxar, the response was massive and roads remained closed at Buxar, Dumraon and Sonbarsa. The highway to Patna was blocked near Sonbarsa. A meeting was held at Jyoti Chowk where speakers condemned the State Govt.’s callousness and demanded immediate relief to starvation-affected people and supply of water to Sone Canal. People also condemned the hike in petroleum products.
Similar protests were witnessed at Chhapra, Siwan, Rohtas, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Gopalganj. While the people came out on the streets against the repressive Laloo-Rabri regime, the CPI(ML) MLAs staged a protest inside the Bihar Assembly to voice the people’s anger there.