The CPI(M) began a truly massive march on foot of around 50,000 people hailing from all the tehsils of Palghar district. The March started from Charoti, Tehsil Dahanu, and will stop for the night at Manor, and then march tomorrow to the Palghar District Collectorate. The massive gathering will sit on an indefinite dharna at the Palghar Collectorate until its burning and long-standing demands are conceded by the government in writing with a definite time frame.
Mass fronts like the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Student’s Federation of India (SFI) and Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) have also joined this March in huge numbers.
The March is being led by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS National President Dr Ashok Dhawale, Polit Bureau member and AIDWA National General Secretary Mariam Dhawale, Central Committee member, state secretary and AIKS National Joint Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale, Central Committee member and CITU State Secretary Vinod Nikole, two-term MLA from Dahanu, State Secretariat member and AARM State Convenor Kiran Gahala, and many others. Tomorrow CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS National General Secretary Vijoo Krishnan will also join the March.
The major demands of this March are as follows: Rigorous implementation of the Forest Rights Act; Vesting of all temple, inaam and govt land in the name of the tillers; Restoration of MNREGA; Cancellation of the Smart Meter scheme; Implementation of PESA; Repeal of the Labour Codes; Cancellation of the Wadhwan and Murbe Ports; Water for drinking and irrigation; Increased facilities for education, employment, ration, health, and so on.