Joint Left Rally in Ranchi

A Citizens’ Sadbhavana March by 5 Left parties was held on 12 June from Shaheed Chowk to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi against communal polarization by the BJP-RSS on occasions like Eid by spreading communal hatred and venom on a wide scale. The march was held under the joint banners of the CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, SUCI and Marxist Coordination Committee(MCC).

On 10 June during the busy Eid season BJP Yuva Morcha leader Sanjay Seth who is also the President of the Khadi Gramodyog Sangh organized a motorcycle rally at 4 pm through predominantly Muslim areas like Main Road and Daily Market. The Muslims in these areas closed their shops and came out in large numbers to oppose the riotous activities of the goons who were organizing the rally. The rioters could not succeed in their objective as the police arrived and they had to run away. Again on the same night at around 11 pm two Maulvis from Daldali who were returning home by motorcycle after reading namaaz were attacked in the Ratu Road (Rnchi) area. One of the Maulanas managd to escape but the other, Azharul, was badly injured in the attack and is admitted in hospital.

The Citizens’ March by the Left parties was held in protest against the above incident. The leaders of the march included Janardan Prasad, Bhuvaneshwar Kewat, Shubhendu Sen, Sukhdev Prasad from CPI(ML), Gopikant Baxi, Prakash Biplav, Praful Linda from CPM, Ajay (CPI), senior journalist Srinivas, advocate Rashidi, Anil Anshuman (JASAM), Aloka (AIPF), Sushanto (MCC), Umesh, Nazir and Farzana (IFTA), Bina Linda (AIDWA), Enamul (Construction Workers Union). Villagers from Daldali came especially to be present at the march. While the march was in progress, there occurred an incident at Deori village in Nagri Block (Ranchi District) where Hindutva goons spread rumours of meat being thrown into a temple and started attacking the minorities. Immediately after the march a delegation of Left leaders met the city ASP and demanded immediate stopping of the attack, action on the rioters and ensuring of safety and security for everyone.

On 13 June an enquiry team from the Left parties visited Nagri and Daldali to enquire into the incidents. On the initiative of the Left, a meeting of Opposition parties was held on 14 June to bring out the communal riots, now spreading from the urban to the rural areas, as a State level political issue.