ATTEMPT TO DEMOLISH MEMORIAL IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND REPRESSIVE: CPI-ML

ATTEMPT TO DEMOLISH MEMORIAL IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND REPRESSIVE: CPI-ML

5-MAY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------CPI (ML) State Secretary Kunal has strongly condemned the action taken on May 3, 2026—involving a heavy police deployment—to demolish the memorial of Maoist leader Dev Kumar Singh (alias Arvind Kumar) in Sukulchak village of Jehanabad district. The party stated that this move is not only undemocratic but constitutes a direct assault on citizens' ideological rights, social memory, and democratic values.

The administration arrived to demolish the memorial without following any transparent procedure or taking the local residents into confidence. During the operation, parts of the memorial were partially damaged, and the marble cladding was pried off. However, due to fierce resistance from the local populace, the administration was forced to retreat. Subsequently, the operation was halted following instructions from a higher authority—a development that raises serious questions regarding the entire sequence of events.

The CPI (ML) asserted that, in any democratic system, accepting a diversity of ideas serves as a fundamental cornerstone. An individual's association with a particular ideology cannot be construed as a crime. Disagreements must be resolved through dialogue and democratic processes, rather than through repression and the use of force. The attempt to demolish the memorial signals that the administration is moving towards forcibly suppressing even ideological dissent—a trend that is deeply concerning.

The party further noted that, following Arvind Kumar's demise, this memorial was erected by his family members on their own private land through voluntary contributions, and it serves as a site where tributes are paid to him annually. Such memorials are not merely linked to the memory of an individual; they also constitute an integral part of the socio-political history of the region. An attack on such memorials is, in essence, a disregard for both history and public sentiment.

A CPI (ML) fact-finding team—comprising State Standing Committee members Comrade Mahanand and Ramadhar Singh, State Committee member Ravindra Yadav, and local leaders Niranjan Kumar and Lalan Singh—visited the site on May 4 and gathered detailed information from the family members and local residents. The team found that the administration's action was arbitrary and unwarranted.

The CPI(ML) State Committee has demanded a high-level and impartial inquiry into this entire matter, the identification of the guilty officials so that strict action may be taken against them, and compensation for the damage caused to the memorial. Furthermore, clear guidelines must be issued to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

The party has warned that if such repressive actions are not halted, a widespread mass movement will be launched.