Souvik Ghosh
THE end of last month was marred by violent communal tensions and clashes in various parts of West Bengal. It is evident that organising Ram Navami processions has become a new tactic for Hindutva forces to incite communal activities and disrupt people's unity. Initially, the state government attempted to evade responsibility after failing to ensure law and order. The official statement was that a part of the police force did nothing to intervene. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initially claimed that they were taking steps to maintain and restore peace. However, one week later, the statement changed dramatically, claiming that the police were standing still for about an hour – and this is now their official alibi. In the meantime, the High Court has noted discrepancies in the police report regarding the communal clashes that occurred in Howrah and Hooghly.
Along with other Left and democratic forces, the CPI(M) has been in the forefront in standing against such shameless acts of communal hatred. The Party has called for peace marches in various parts of the state, advocating for harmony and brotherhood, and has received widespread appreciation from all sections of society.
On April 2, a peace march was planned in Howrah. However, the state administration denied permission to the march, citing the curfew in the affected areas. Undeterred, the Party quickly organised a large public meeting, which was attended by Polit Bureau member and state secretary Md Salim, Polit Bureau member Surjya Kanta Mishra, and other leaders of the Party and the Left Front. Salim explained how the situation was being manipulated to establish a binary of TMC-BJP and divert attention from the real issues of people's livelihood in West Bengal. The ruling TMC is under intense pressure due to numerous corruption scandals coming to light, while the BJP's popularity is waning. People are increasingly standing up against such rampant corruption. With the upcoming panchayat elections in West Bengal, both the TMC and BJP are trying everything to derail the people's struggle, including staging communal violence.
Mishra emphasised the need for wider and united participation of people in the resistance. He highlighted the legacy of communal harmony in West Bengal, citing Comrade Jyoti Basu's condemnation of BJP as a barbaric and savage political force that seeks to undermine the idea of India, following the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. He pointed out that it was under the TMC government that RSS-BJP gained a foothold in West Bengal, and now the state government is blaming BJP for everything. This is another way of maintaining the binary when the nexus is no more working. The Left will continue to organise people's struggles.
Following the violent incidents in Shibpur-Howrah, Uttar Dinajpur, and Rishra-Hooghly, the BJP leaders were quick to blame the state government, attempting to stoke communal tensions in West Bengal. This is a tactic they use to promote binary politics whenever it serves their interests. After being relatively inactive in the political landscape of West Bengal, they have seized the opportunity to regain media attention.
Peace marches were organised in various districts including Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, and South-24 Parganas. The Left Front called for a two-day Harmony Rally from Konnagar (Hooghly) on April 9th to Shibpur (Howrah) on April 10th. The rally in Hooghly was large in size and the mood of the people showed their determination against communal violence. However, the TMC administration responded aggressively the next day as police attacked the peace march. Unnecessary blockades were placed on roads between Salkia and Bally, and the police tried to suppress the peace rally with brutal force. State party secretary Md Salim and Central Committee member Sridip Bhattacharya led the rally along with other leaders of the Left parties.
The blockades were removed by the people despite facing severe police atrocity. Left Front chairman Biman Basu called for a street meeting right where the police were trying to contain the rally. Meanwhile, Salim and Bhattacharya led another part of the rally to the Bridge & Roof Company Point (GT Road) for another meeting. The speakers at the meeting condemned the role of the police during the violence that occurred during the Ram Navami procession. The Party will continue to protest against such communal violence, and people's struggles will combat this evil.
