Apart from providing succour to distressed, running community kitchens, providing relief to Amphan victims, the Left parties in West Bengal have organised protest movements highlighting peoples’ demands. On the one hand, the central government is sharpening its attack on peoples’ livelihood; on the other the state government has shown a paralysed reaction to both Covid-19 and recent cyclone. The Left parties have raised peoples’ issues through demonstrations and symbolic protests.

16 Left and allied parties organised a protest movement on May 28. In Kolkata, leaders of the parties stood before Ambedkar statue with placards. Biman Basu, Surya Misra, CPI state secretary Swapan Banerjee, RSP general secretary Manoj Bhattacharya, Forward Block leader Naren Chatterjee, CPI (ML) leader Basudeb Basu and others took part in the protest. Leaders of trade union and other mass organisations also took part.

They raised demands for declaring Amphan as a national disaster and centre’s contribution for reconstruction; immediate relief to distressed people; more tests for corona virus in the state; adequate protection for health workers, remunerative price for the peasants; payment of wages to workers for the lockdown period; immediate payment of financial support to migrant workers and defence of public sector.

Biman Basu addressing media at the protest site, said that both the centre and state governments have failed to control spread of corona. There is no coordination between the two governments. In the case of cyclone, relief has not reached to victims even after a week.

Protests were organised throughout the state on the same day.

On June 4, agricultural workers demonstrated throughout the state at the call of AIAWU. In a new form of movement they filled up forms seeking job in REGA.

AIKS organised block level deputation demanding remunerative prices for produces, insurance support and jobs for rural poor. 

DYFI demonstrated in front of CESC headquarters protesting massive breakdown in electricity connectivity.