JAIL BHARO STIR MASSIVE SUCCESS IN MAHARASHTRA

August 9, 2018
Current, Jail Bharo 2018

OVER 21,000 COURT ARREST IN THANE-PALGHAR DISTRICT, 18,000 IN NASHIK DISTRICT, 5000 IN SOLAPUR DISTRICT; OTHER REPORTS COMING IN SOON

The August 9 Jail Bharo struggle by the AIKS-CITU has been a massive success in over 25 districts all over Maharashtra, with the AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI and SFI also pooling in their strength in this stir. Nearly 45,000 people have courted arrest in the three districts of Thane-Palghar, Nashik and Solapur alone.

All these actions in Maharashtra not only concentrated on the burning demands of peasants and workers, but they also called for the defeat of the anti-people, pro-corporate, communal and divisive BJP-RSS government led by Narendra Modi. Calls were given everywhere to make the September 5 Mazdoor-Kisan Sangharsh Rally and the September 4 Women’s Protest Rally in Delhi a massive success.

In Thane-Palghar district, braving heavy rains and setting aside their paddy cultivation, over 21,000 people blocked the roads and courted arrest in seven tehsil centres, viz Vikramgad (5500), Dahanu (3500), Wada (3000), Shahapur (3000), Talasari (2500), Jawhar (2500) and Palghar (1000). Peasant women took part everywhere in large numbers.

AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale courted arrest at Dahanu, AIDWA General Secretary Mariam Dhawale at Vikramgad, AIKS State President Kisan Gujar and AIKS State Vice President Barkya Mangat at Talasari, AIKS State Vice President Ratan Budhar at Jawhar, CITU State Joint Secretary Vinod Nikole at Dahanu and DYFI State President Sunil Dhanwa at Wada.

Over 18,000 people took part in the Road Blockade and Jail Bharo stir in nine tehsils of Nashik district. The participation was as follows: Peth (8000), Dindori (2500), Tryambakeshwar (2000), Chandwad (1500), Malegaon (1100), Surgana (1000), Kalwan (1000) and Nashik city (850).

The actions were led in the rural areas by AIKS former State President J P Gavit, MLA, and AIKS State Office Bearers Sunil Malusare, Irfan Shaikh, Subhash Choudhary and Savliram Pawar, and in Nashik city by CITU State President Dr D L Karad and CITU State Vice President Sitaram Thombre.

At Solapur, it was the CITU that took the lead and over 5000 workers courted arrest at two centres. They were led by CITU former state president Narasayya Adam, CITU state General Secretary M H Shaikh, AIKS State Vice President Sidhappa Kalshetty, AIDWA State President Naseema Shaikh and others.

Reports of the August 9 Jail Bharo actions are flowing in from all districts of Maharashtra.