THE Left Front’s 72 hour sit-in demonstration started on June 29 afternoon in Kolkata protesting against the ruthless attack on democratic rights in the state. Thousands gathered in the initial rally braving rains. The sit-in continued uninterrupted through the night with leaders of Left Front including Biman Basu staying on the road. The state has witnessed unabated political terror, aiming against opposition activists and supporters. 157 activists of the Left Front have been murdered in the TMC regime. Thousands have been rendered homeless, their houses were destroyed in many cases. More than five thousand Left activists are facing false cases. But the attack has not spared even others, spreading to educational institutions, workplaces and localities where anti-social elements are the real rulers now. As part of the wider mobilisation to resist this onslaught on the people, the Left Front has decided to stage this sit-in, in the heart of the state capital. It was on June 25, 1975 that the internal emergency was declared and massive attack on democracy was launched throughout the country. The families of the martyrs were present in the sit-in. Some of them told their horrible experiences in the gathering. Inaugurating the programme, Biman Basu detailed the nature of terror in the state and said that the Left Front met the chief minister to ask her to take measures to maintain law and order. But there was no sign of serious action on behalf of the state administration. Basu also mentioned about the attacks on the livelihood of the people and said the new government at the centre has also started launching fresh attacks on the common people. Suryakanta Misra said the time to resist the anarchy has arrived. Along with that, the unity of the people has to be defended, secularism has to be guarded. Wherever there are attacks on the people, the Left activists will reach and stay on the roads, he said. RSP leader Khiti Goswami, CPI leader Swapan Banerjee, Forward Block leader Jayanta Roy addressed the rally. Left Front leaders including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were present in the sit-in. People from districts will participate in the demonstration and it will conclude through a rally which will be addressed by Left leaders.