Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 14 December 2023
The CPI (M) Diglipur Area Committee orchestrated a resounding Mass Dharna on December 12th, 2023, staging a vocal protest in front of the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Diglipur. The event drew participation from party leaders and devoted workers from the Diglipur area, spearheaded by prominent figures such as AVA Samad, Sunil Bepari, Dilip Karmakar, KP Paul, Anil Halder, and Abhiram Mazumdar.
The rally echoed the grievances of the people of North Andaman, highlighting a multitude of concerns crucial to the region’s residents. Paramount among the issues raised were:
1. Incomplete NH-4 Work: The failure of the BJP government in completing the NH-4 work.
2. Repair and Renovation of Rural Roads: Urgent repair and renovation of rural roads in North Andaman.
3. Access to Drinking Water: Ensuring proper and sufficient drinking water for the populace.
4. Employment Generation: Creating job opportunities for unemployed youth.
5. Agricultural Support: Making fertilisers, seeds, and essential agricultural resources available at reasonable prices for farmers.
Following the culmination of the Mass Dharna, a spirited procession coursed through the Diglipur bazaar, culminating in a robust public meeting.
In a fervent address at the Diglipur bazaar meeting, D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI (M) State Organising Committee and Vice President of the CITU State Committee, castigated the BJP-led central government. Ayyappan accused the BJP of driving the country into poverty, exacerbating unemployment, and fostering a widening economic disparity during their 9 ½ years in power.
He vehemently criticised the government’s spree of privatisation, targeting key sectors like banking, insurance, railways, oil companies, coal, airports, and sea-ports. Ayyappan specifically pointed to the lack of job creation for the youth in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, citing the alleged corruption surrounding the renovation work of NH-4/ATR as a prime example.
Demanding a thorough CBI investigation into the NH4/ATR renovation, Ayyappan stressed that corruption is escalating under BJP rule in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He lambasted the BJP for its silence on corruption issues, highlighting the selective use of agencies like the ED, Income Tax, and CBI to suppress opposition leaders in certain states, while maintaining a glaring absence of such actions in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Sunil Bepari, President of the CITU Diglipur Zonal Committee, further elucidated on the injustices faced by North Andaman residents under BJP rule. He criticised the central government for categorising regular work in the Forest Department as seasonal, rotating daily-rated mazdoors every six months to deny them rightful benefits.
All India Kisan Sabha leader Dilip Karmakar shed light on the plight of farmers in North Andaman, highlighting the challenges faced in obtaining fair prices for agricultural produce. He emphasized the lack of governmental support and assistance to farmers, painting a stark picture of neglect in the agricultural sector.
The Mass Dharna and subsequent public meeting resounded as a vocal call to action, amplifying the pressing concerns of the people of North Andaman, urging governmental intervention and policy changes to address their grievances.