The Asian Social Forum was held in Hyderabad in January. AICCTU, AISA, AIPWA and IIMS participated in it. They played an important part in the rally held on the concluding day. (top)
Soon after the Congress, in January, Bihar plunged into turbulence. Three students were gunned down in cold blood in a fake police encounter. CPI(ML) called for a 'Bihar Bandh' on January 3 against the RJD government.
On January 22, the students and youth of Bihar rallied with AISA and RYA to hold a massive March. On 23 February, a huge state-level mass convention was organised in Bihar under the theme, "Build A New Bihar".
IIn February, a Jharkhand Navnirman mass convention was held, which resolved to intensify mass struggles in the state.
The year 2003 saw several states evicting tribals from their traditional homelands under a directive from the Supreme Court. The CPI(ML) called upon its organisations to resist the move.
On January 31, CPI(ML) held a successful Jharkhand bandh against state repression.
The Year That Was
In India, in the wake of the Seventh
Congress, first came the stunning bad news of BJP's victory in Gujarat.
This strengthened the resolve of the secular forces throughout the country to
intensify their resistance to Modi brand of murderous communalism.
