--classstrugggle-flipmag CS Dec-2018 MKP | Seite 23

Odisha Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Birsa Munda
On November 25 th , 2018, the
Chasi Muliya Sangh, Odisha and
Area Shramajeevi Sangh together
Organized a meeting to comme-
morate the birth anniversary of
Birsa Munda at Birsapadia,
Keonjhar district, Odisha.
Shaheed Birsa Munda (1875-
1900) is a shining symbol of adivasi
struggle against the British Colonial
rule in India. His Hool gula
reverberated in the jungles and
mountains of Chota Nagpur region.
It moved thousands of adivasi
people into an armed rebellion. He
led the adivasi people into action
in defense of their rights over the
lands and forest. It began as a
struggle against the local exploiters
and developed into a historic armed
rebellion against the British
imperialism. Birsa Munda had
emerged as a most popular leader
among the people of various tribes
like Munda, Bhua, Oran, Santhal
and Juan.
The British colonial rulers had
taken away the rights traditionally
enjoyed by the adivasis in tribal
areas. They had turned the
adivasis into wage labor in their own
lands. The British colonial rulers
had promoted a kind of landlordism
and intensified the exploitation and
oppression of adivasi people. This
had become a potential cause for
the rise of adivasi revolts in India.
The British colonialists were
terrified by the sweep of adivasi
rebellion led by Birsa Munda in
Chota Nagpur region. They sought
to crush it with heavy hand. Finally,
they succeeded in arresting and
imprisoning Birsa Munda in Ranchi
jail where he became a Martyr. At
that time, he was just of 25 years
age. Having brutally suppressed
the adivasi revolts, the British
colonial rulers enacted certain laws
in the name of protecting the rights
of adivasis. In reality, these were
only aimed at lulling and pacifying
the adivasi people.
December - 2018
More than 200 people from
different villages have attended the
birth anniversary meeting of Birsa
Munda. Com. Srikant Mohanty, the
president, CMS, Odisha, Com.
Basu Dev Dash state leader, CMS,
Odisha, Com. Ramesh, leader,
Shramajeevi Sangh, Keonjhar and
other comrades have addressed
the people. They explained: The
struggle led Birsa Munda is still
significant and relevant as the
Indian rulers, who stepped into the
shoes of British colonialists,
continue to pursue anti-adivasi and
pro-feudal and pro-imperialist
policies. The Indian rulers are on
the spree of taking away one
adivasi right after other. Most of the
land in adivasi areas now is
controlled by the non-adivasi
landlords. Already, the adivasis
were massively dispossed and
deprived from the rights over the
lands, forests, mineral and natural
resources in the name of mining,
factories or abhayaranya and the
like and they were placed in the
hands of foreign and Indian
corporate Houses. So, adivasi
people in several areas are forced
to take the road of protest. The
protest
movements
like
Kalinganagar and Kashipur in
Odisha had come up only in this
wake. The struggles in other parts
to defend the rights of adivasis
over lands, water, mineral and
other natural resources are only a
part of this. There is every need to
further strengthen these struggles
and make them as an inseparable
part of the struggle of the workers,
peasants and other exploited
classes and people to end the
feudal and imperialist exploitation
and oppression and herald a new
democratic society in our Country.
Let the rebellion and martyrdom of
Birsa Munda inspire us to rededi-
cate ourselves to these aims with
more vigor and determination. ™
Condemn the Arrest of Foreign Journalist
The BhadradriKothagudem Police has foisted a case on Weidman
Joerg, a German citizen and an accredited journalist for alleged
violation of election rules. GummadiNarsaiah, candidate of the
CPI(ML-New Democracy) in Yellendu constituency, Aruna,Election
Agent and Pradeep,IFTU Gen.Secy. have been implicated in this
case.The facts are as follows:
Joerg, who represents the German paper, Rote Fahn had come
to India on a conference VISA to attend a programme in Bangalore
organised by the CPI (ML) Red Flag. He planned to visit to Yellandu
to cover the election rally and meeting on 2.12.2018. I took him to
Yellandu on 2-12-2018 for the said purpose.
He took photographs of the rally and the public meeting for
publication in the said German Paper. His coverage of the programme
does not constitute any offence under the election code and the
police story that he participated in the election campaign of CPI (ML)
ND in Yellandu in violation of the election code is entirely false and is
motivated. The police wanted the details of his passport and VISA
details which he sent to the concerned via whatsapp. Yet the police
has implicated him and others in a false case of violation of election
rules.
The National Committee of IFTU condemns the foisting of this false
case and demands its withdrawal.
04-12-2018
B.Pradeep (General Secretary)
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