'What is the Meaning of a Festival if There is Darkness in Farmers' Homes?': VBA Calls for Black Diwali with Chutney-Bhakri Protest on November 8

Mumbai/Pune: In a powerful display of solidarity with the state's distressed farming community and unorganised labourers, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has announced a statewide 'Black Diwali' protest on Sunday, November 8. The agitation is a direct response to what the party describes as the government's gross insensitivity and inaction in the face of a severe drought-like situation, acute economic distress among farmers, and the resulting darkness that has descended upon rural households this festive season.

According to a circular issued by the party on November 5, the unique form of protest will see party officials, activists, farmers, and farm labourers gathering in front of every District Collector’s office across Maharashtra. The programme is scheduled to begin at 1 pm. Protesters will set up permitted pandals, display party banners and seating arrangements, and symbolically partake in a meal of simple chutney-bhakri. This act is intended to highlight the stark contrast between festive celebrations and the grim reality of those struggling for survival.

The party has accused the state government of being more interested in political events and festivities than in implementing concrete measures to combat the drought. The VBA's statement underscores the severe crisis gripping rural Maharashtra. Erratic rainfall across various parts of the state has caused massive damage to agriculture, ruining standing crops. This has led to a critical scarcity of drinking water and animal fodder, pushing farmers, small landholders, agricultural labourers, unorganised workers, contract labourers, masons, painters, and the general working population in rural areas into deep economic hardship.

The situation has become so dire that the festive lights of Diwali have been extinguished in the homes of farmers and agricultural workers. "What is the meaning of a festival if there is darkness in the homes of farmers during the festive season?" the VBA circular questions, adding that the protest is called to draw the government's attention to the plight of those who feed the state.

Provincial President Rajendra Patode and General Secretary Prof. Somnath Salunkhe have issued a directive to all district, taluka, city, circle, gram, and ward-level office-bearers, along with the party's frontal organisations, including the Women’s Front, Youth Front, Samyak Vidyarthi Andolan, Vidwat Sabha, and Labour Front, to participate in the agitation in large numbers and plan it on a "war footing."

The circular outlines a disciplined approach to the protest. Ahead of the main event, district units have been instructed to hold press conferences to brief electronic media, print media, and YouTube channels, and to send formal invitations a day in advance. On the day of the event, a delegation of only five farmers will hand over a memorandum of demands to the District Collector. The core demands highlighted in the memorandum are immediate assistance to the distressed population and complete loan waiver.