THOUSANDS of Left activists and supporters came out on the streets in West Bengal to protest authoritarian attack on the constitution by abrogating special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the constitution and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. Braving hate campaign, the CPI(M) organised a protest rally on  August 5 itself, hours after the announcement in the parliament. The rally in Kolkata was attended by CPI(M) leaders including Biman Basu, Surjya Kanta Misra and Mohammad Salim. Similar rallies were held in different parts of the state including Siliguri.  

On the all India protest day on August 7, hundreds of Left activists marched through the streets of Kolkata. The rally was called by Left parties and allies including RJD and LJD. The leaders of 16 parties were present in the march which started from Lenin statue and ended in Sealdah.

In a public meeting held after the procession, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Salim said, Kashmir is virtually blocked from all sides. People are scared. Those who took up arms in Kashmir used to defy the constitution of India. Now the government of India itself is defying the constitution. A state has been bifurcated without any discussion with the state representatives. This is an assault on federal structure of our country. This may happen with any other state. Kashmir has been pushed towards more violence and horror.

There were rallies in other districts too. Sixteen parties have decided to observe a week of protest, defending the democratic character of the Indian constitution. It will continue till August 15.