As the 13th Siwan District Conference of CPI(ML) began in Bindusar, the area resonated with the inspiring slogan, “Chandu Tum Zinda Ho, Kheton Mein, Khalihanon Mein, Inquilab Ke Naron Mein,” [Chandu, you live on in the fields, in the farmlands, in the slogans of revolution], capturing the spirit of Comrade Chandrashekhar’s enduring legacy. On this day in 1997, Comrade Chandrashekhar, popularly known as Chandu, a young CPI(ML) activist, along with Comrade Shyam Narayan Yadav, was martyred while resisting the criminal-mafia regime and carrying forward the struggles of the poor and deprived sections.
As the CPIML conference began a new memorial of Comrade Chandrashekhar was formally unveiled. This memorial stands as a living symbol of revolutionary sacrifice and will inspire generations to carry forward the struggles for justice and equality. The programme saw enthusiastic participation of local people, students, youth and activists of various mass organisations.
The memorial was jointly unveiled by CPI(ML) Polit Bureau member Comrade Dhirendra Jha, JNUSU President Aditi Mishra and Patna University student leader Saba Afreen. After the unveiling of the memorial, a anti-war march was taken out from Bindusar to Chandrashekhar Golambar. Hundreds of people participated, raising slogans against imperialist wars and in defence of peace and democracy. The march reflected strong opposition to growing global war tensions and expressed solidarity with struggles for peace and democratic rights.
District Conference
The open session of the conference began after garlanding the statues of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Comrade Chandrashekhar. Addressing the session, Aditi Mishra said that the world is passing through a phase of war, instability and deepening economic crisis, and emphasised the urgent need to defend peace, brotherhood and democratic values. She criticised the policies of the central government for aligning with US and Israel and linked them to rising inflation, unemployment and energy crisis. Raising the issue of education, she opposed budget cuts, privatisation and attacks on institutions like JNU, and called upon students and youth to intensify struggles.
Saba Afreen said that the legacy of the martyrs inspires resistance against injustice, exploitation and repression, and called upon the youth to build a broad democratic movement for equality and justice.
Comrade Dhirendra Jha, the main speaker, said that the present political atmosphere poses a serious threat to democracy and constitutional values. He accused the central government of functioning under corporate and imperialist influence, and pointed to the adverse impact of ongoing wars, including economic distress, job losses and crisis among migrant workers. Referring to Bihar, he warned against BJP’s attempts to capture power by subverting the popular mandate and asserted that the people would resist such moves.
Comrade Satyadev Ram highlighted the increasing attacks on the poor, Dalits and marginalised sections and called for organised resistance. Comrade Amarjeet Kushwaha spoke about the worsening condition of workers and peasants in the face of rising prices, unemployment and displacement. Comrade Amarnath Yadav condemned bulldozer-driven evictions of the poor, particularly those settled on Bhoodan land, and called for intensified struggles at the grassroots.
Speakers noted that Bihar is facing deepening crises marked by unemployment, forced migration, agrarian distress, deteriorating education and health systems, and displacement of the poor. They emphasised that only a united and sustained mass movement can challenge these conditions.
The conference called upon the people to intensify struggles against the BJP’s designs to take over Bihar and to defend democracy, secularism and social justice. The programme concluded with a collective pledge to carry forward the legacy of the martyrs and to strengthen the struggle for a just, democratic and egalitarian society.
