THE April 20th rally at Brigade Parade Grounds, Kolkata is going to be a response to the growing discontent among West Bengal's working people. Organised by West Bengal units of CITU, AIKS, AIAWU and Paschimbanga Basti Unnayan Samiti (West Bengal Slum Development Association), it aims to unite workers, farmers, agricultural workers, and marginalised people against the policies of both the central BJP government and the state Trinamool Congress-led government. These policies have worsened the economic conditions, undermined democratic rights, and favoured corporate interests over the welfare of ordinary citizens.

The central government's economic strategies, particularly those championed by the BJP, are criticised for squeezing the life out of ordinary citizens through financial policies that favour corporate interests. There is growing concern over heightened exploitation in factories, declining real incomes, and the privatisation of vital public sectors, including banking, insurance, and defense, which is benefiting capitalists at the expense of the public good.

Simultaneously, a toxic mix of corporate power and communal hatred is tearing at the nation's social fabric, stifling dissent and pushing minorities to the margins. The BJP-RSS's Hindutva agenda is fueling communal division, hatred, and polarisation, undermining social unity and creating a climate of fear. The corporate-communal nexus, with its rising fascist tendencies, poses a significant threat to the nation's democratic fabric. The regime's neo-fascist leanings, pushing for "one nation, one party, one leader," are a direct assault on secular principles and democratic structures, with minorities and marginalised groups facing increased attacks. Media control is further stifling dissent and critical voices.

The agricultural sector in West Bengal as elsewhere is in crisis due to rising corporate exploitation, leading to increased farmer suicides. The central government's focus on corporate debt relief and pervasive corruption in rural development schemes have left farmers struggling. Agricultural workers also face low wages and limited job opportunities. The BJP's economic policies, including privatisation of the electricity sector and new labour codes, threaten to worsen the situation for workers. These policies are undermining the country's self-reliance, causing inflation, unemployment, and inequality.

The proposed labour codes aim to facilitate capitalist exploitation by removing fundamental rights and protections from numerous organised sector workers while severely restricting union activity, leaving workers vulnerable. Furthermore, the government's plan to privatise public sector assets threatens national interests and the very foundation of the public sector.

In West Bengal, the Trinamool government has become a seat of corruption, authoritarianism, and suppression of dissent. The government favours capitalists, while labour conditions deteriorate and corruption thrives. The collusion between the Trinamool government and the BJP, evidenced by electoral bonds and mutual support, has now become common knowledge. The rising influence of the RSS in the state has given rise to increasing communal tensions.

The April 20th Brigade Rally is a clarion call to action, uniting workers, farmers, and other marginalised groups in a collective struggle against the anti-people policies of both the central and state governments. The rally aims to protect public sector assets, repeal the labour codes, and defend democratic rights. It seeks to build a Left-led alternative to counter the rising tide of authoritarianism and communalism.

RALLYING AGAINST MISRULE

The primary focus of the rally is not solely political; it is about survival. It seeks to address urgent concerns like the repeal of harmful labour codes that jeopardise job security and fair wages, and the cessation of public asset sales. The escalating cost of living, fueled by rising prices and a declining currency, has made essentials unaffordable for many. Gig workers, predominantly educated youth, face exploitative conditions without security or benefits. Rural agricultural workers are grappling with diminishing prospects, worsened by the suspension of the 100-day work scheme and land record changes that favour wealthy landowners.

The agricultural sector's alarming decline is a significant focus of the rally. Production costs have skyrocketed while crop prices remain stagnant, leaving farmers in dire straits. The governments’ promised support prices are rarely realised and middlemen exploit vulnerable farmers. Natural disasters exacerbate the situation, destroying crops and livelihoods. The state's agricultural output is plummeting, with paddy production and procurement significantly reduced, threatening food security. The central government's proposed new agricultural laws are seen as a final blow, designed to hand over control of production and marketing to corporations, displacing small farmers and endangering national food security.

The rally seeks to unify various sections affected by these policies, including workers, farmers, slum dwellers, and women. It is crucial to resist the use of divisive tactics like religious fanaticism to divert attention from pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, and environmental damage. The rally will emphasize that these are not isolated problems but systemic failures that necessitate collective action.

The rights and dignity of working people are under attack due to the anti-people policies of both the Modi government at the centre and the Mamata Banerjee government in the state. These governments are prioritising corporate interests and dismantling hard-won labour rights. In response, a powerful movement of workers, farmers, agricultural laborers, and slum dwellers is emerging.

On the one hand, the Modi government has consolidated 29 labour laws into four codes, aiming to extend working hours to 12 and privatise public assets, including land and natural resources. On the other hand the state government is following suit, neglecting fair wages and social security while favouring employers. Industries are closing, temporary workers are not being made permanent, and minimum wage standards are ignored. Rampant inflation further exacerbates the plight of working people, forcing entire families into poverty.

The state's moral fabric is in shambles, with the ruling party fostering an environment of terror and plunder. Democratic rights are being suppressed, and communal tensions are being stoked by both the BJP and Trinamool, affecting working people. Women's safety is also compromised as evidenced by the gruesome rape and murder of Abhaya-Tilottama.

Urban slum dwellers, often migrants from rural areas, face dire conditions: evictions, fires, lack of basic amenities like ration cards and clean water, and poor sanitation and healthcare. Land rights are paramount to them. Railway and road expansion projects threaten mass evictions. The introduction of prepaid smart meters for electricity further burdens the poor. Slum dwellers demand land rights, 200 units of free electricity, housing, clean water, sanitation, education, and healthcare. On April 20th, they will join the Brigade rally to assert their rights.

The central government's decision to suspend funding for the 100-day work scheme in West Bengal due to corruption and misuse orchestrated by the Trinamool Congress has had devastating consequences for millions of people. The loss of essential income has plunged vulnerable populations into severe economic hardship, forcing many to migrate in search of precarious and dangerous labour. This mass migration highlights the crucial role the scheme played in maintaining rural stability.

Both the Trinamool Congress and BJP governments are notorious for their neglect of the working people. The Trinamool is synonymous with rampant corruption and a failure to create jobs, while the BJP is politicising the 100-day scheme. Both parties are seen as prioritising corporate interests over worker welfare.

In response, the April 20th rally at Brigade Parade Grounds is planned to unite people, resist exploitation and demand accountability from those in power. The goal is to unify and amplify the voices of the affected, pushing for a future where basic needs are met and dignity is upheld.