CPI(ML) organised a state-wide dharna and demonstration in Uttar Pradesh on 15 July against unfettered price-rise; increasing incidences of crime against dalits and women in the State; demanding that UP be declared a drought-hit state; and BPL cards for all the poor with 50 kg of grains and five litres of kerosene oil per month at the rate of two rupees; against corruption in NREGA; and demanding freeing of land from the control of land-mafias and redistribution of the same among landless poor.
In Lucknow, the Dharna was held in front of the State Assembly. In Varanasi it was held at the District Headquarters and was addressed by Party’s State Secretary Com. Sudhakar Yadav. Dharnas were also held in different districts of the State including Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Mau, Kushinagar, Ambedkarnagar, Faizabad, Kanpur, Jalaun and Sitapur.
CPI(ML) members started a 48-hour long mass hunger strike on 15 July at the district headquarters of Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra. Apart from the above mentioned issues the hunger strike also focused on granting schedule tribe (ST) status to all deprived adivasis including Kol, Biyar and Vanvasi (Musahar) tribes; strict implementation of Forest Rights Act and resolving the crisis of drinking water. At the site of hunger strike in Mirzapur, hundreds of people were present on the last day of strike and long discussions with the Administration Officials ensued. The Administration agreed to accept all the demands which could be directly addressed at the district level; and agreed to forward all the rest of the demands to the State and Centre. In Chandauli 500 people marched from the venue of hunger strike to the DM’s office and ended their strike only after talk with and assurance from the CDO and DM. At Sonebhadra, the hunger strike was converted to a relay hunger strike and continued on the fourth day also.
