Maharashtra -Nashik
On June 12, 2022, a massive 10,000-strong rally and public meeting was organised by the CPI(M) and AIKS at Umbarthan, Tehsil Surgana, District Nashik in Maharashtra. The audience comprised an overwhelming number of Adivasi peasants. The DYFI and AIDWA had also mobilised in strength.
June 12 this year was the 35th anniversary of the martyrdom of Comrade Laxman Bagul, who was killed at Vanganbari in Surgana tehsil in police firing in 1987, in a valiant struggle against eviction from forest lands.
The public meeting was presided over by CPI(M) Central Committee member and AIKS state Vice President J P Gavit, ex-MLA. It was addressed by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, ex-MP, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale, AIKS district President Savliram Pawar, and DYFI district President Indrajit Gavit. AIKS district Secretary Irfan Shaikh and AIKS district Working President Sunil Malusare conducted the meeting.
Those present included AIKS state President Kisan Gujar, CPI(M) Nashik district Secretary Bhika Rathod, AIKS district Vice President Subhash Choudhary and many other leaders.
Comrades Brinda, Ashok and Gavit in their speeches strongly attacked the anti-tribal, anti-people and anti-national policies of the BJP-RSS Modi government. They deplored the failure of implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) state government. They also came down heavily on the communal and divisive conspiracies of the BJP-RSS and the Sangh Parivar.
The public meeting gave a clarion call for a huge districtwide AIKS rally on the Divisional Commissioner's office at Nashik on June 20 on the burning issues of the peasantry.Just before the public meeting, Brinda Karat inaugurated the new CPI(M) area office at Umbarthan, which was built with contributions from the local people.
