The Jharkhand Committee of CPI-ML had decided to observe the 8th Martyrdom Anniversary on January 16 as Jharkhand Bachao Diwas throughout the State. The Party organized meetings in Giridih and Kodarma at Bagodar, and Bishungarh in Hazaribagh district. A dharna was organized in Ranchi which was attended by well-known personalities from the city.

At the close of the Sankalp Sabha held in Ranchi, a political resolution was passed strongly condemning the machinations of the Congress to cobble together a government in Jharkhand and calling for immediate dissolution of the Assembly followed by fresh elections. The Party demanded immediate curbs on violence against women in Jharkhand as well as the whole country, and strict and effective laws to ensure this. Strong protest was registered against FDI in retail and the people were called upon to ensure the success of the People’s Convention on February 1 and Bharat Bandh on February 21-22 against the government policy to enslave the country once again through the Walmart companies and to stop the corporate loot at Nagdi and all such other lands. The Sankalp Sabha called on the people to work for the success of the 9th Party Congress which would prove to be a milestone in the building of a revolutionary Left alternative in the country.

At Bagodar, the massive rally was addressed by CPI(ML) GS Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, Jharkhand MLA Vinod Singh. The Sankalp Sabha at Mahendra Singh Bhavan, Ranchi, began at 10 AM with the garlanding of Mahendra Singh’s portrait and observing one minute’s silence as a tribute, followed by the meeting at Albert Ekka Chowk, which was addressed by a range of senior party leaders, cultural activists and leaders of people’s movements.

Sankalp Sabhas were also held in Budmu and Bundu in Ranchi district, and Palkot, Bishunpur and Sisai in Gumla district. A dharna and meetings were organized in Lohardaga as well as Govindpur in Tata, Ramgarh, Gola, Patratu, Bhurkunda of Ramgarh district. A rally was taken out from Deoriya village to Bhurkundu. A meeting was held in Giddi in Hazaribagh district. Sankalp Sabhas were held in Chandankyari, Bermo, Mahuadand, Jenamod and Kasmar in Bokaro district. Meetings were held in Randhir Verma Chowk (Dhanbad), Sindri, Govindpur and Nirsa in Dhanbad district, as well as Dumka and Godda. Meetings at Manika and Barbadih in Latehar district (Palamu range). State committee members addressed a meeting and March in Tarhasi at the Panki Assembly segment in Palamu district. Sankalp Sabhas were held in two villages of Patan-Chhatarpur and Chahmuhan Chowk in Daltonganj town. Meetings and marches were organized in Cheeniya, Meral, Garhwa, Bhavnathpur, Majhiaon and Nagar.