The Rising Tide of Dissent in West Bengal
Samprikta Bose
WEST Bengal is currently witnessing a significant surge in public dissent. Various mass organisations have come together in large numbers, demanding civil liberties, quality education, women’s safety, justice, and an end to corruption. This collective voice, expressed through student rallies, women’s rights conventions, and ongoing protests seeking justice for specific victims, highlights growing dissatisfaction with the failures of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), West Bengal state committee, led a major public rally on June 16 at College Street, Kolkata, marking the culmination of a widespread statewide campaign aimed at engaging students from diverse regions and amplifying their often unheard voices. The campaign focused on pressing issues in the education sector, with the SFI putting forth a set of clear demands centred on ensuring accessible education and technology for all. These included an immediate reduction in fees across all levels of education – schools, colleges, universities, and madrasas – as well as substantial increases in funding for educational infrastructure, scholarships, and stipends. The SFI strongly opposed the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, arguing that both pose serious threats to equitable access to education.
Among their other demands were concrete measures to reintegrate school dropouts, including the introduction of an ‘Anti-Dropout Stimulus Package’ in the state budget and dedicated funding for the Mid-Day Meal scheme. The organisation also called for free internet access for all citizens, particularly in educational contexts, and for regulatory mechanisms to address the rising costs of internet services in order to bridge the digital divide. In addition, the SFI demanded an end to communal violence rooted in caste and religious divisions, advocating for a curriculum that promotes patriotism, unity, and social cohesion through regular classes on the Preamble of the Constitution. The call for immediate student union elections in colleges and universities, along with democratic and transparent elections for school managing committees, was another central aspect of their agenda.
Throughout the campaign, SFI West Bengal secretary Debanjan Dey and president Pranay Karjyee have tried to connect with students in remote areas, including tea gardens, riverside settlements, and mountainous regions. The SFI campaign covered districts such as Jhargram, Naxalbari, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, and Manbhum.
AIDWA MEETING
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) held its three-day Central Executive Committee meeting in Jalpaiguri, concluding on June 1, where it strongly criticised both the Modi-led central government and the Mamata Banerjee-led state government for undermining women’s rights to life, livelihood, and security. AIDWA leaders discussed the worsening conditions for women, particularly in Bengal, and called for united resistance to reclaim their rights.
A major public rally on May 30 highlighted issues like wage discrimination, communal violence, corruption, and rising insecurity. The rally saw significant participation from adivasis, workers, and farmers across North Bengal. Speakers, including CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim, AIDWA leaders Subhashini Ali, P K Sreemathy, Debolina Hembram, and Kaninika Ghosh, condemned government failures, violence on women, and policies that deepen inequality. They emphasized the need for self-defense, legal support, and collective struggle, while contrasting Bengal’s state apathy with Kerala’s more inclusive approach. Ziaul Alam, presiding over the rally, said the mass turnout was a sign of growing unity among the working class against the divisive politics of the BJP and TMC.
ABHAYA MANCHA MOVEMENT
The ‘Abhaya Mancha’ continues its relentless pursuit of justice for Abhaya, the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered nearly ten months ago. Recent protests held on June 7 in Sodepur and June 9 outside the Tala Police Station underscored the ongoing demand for accountability. The rally in Sodepur, titled “The Roar of Justice,” drew attention to the prolonged delay in the investigation and judicial process. Speakers including Dr Tamonash Chowdhury, Dr Utpal Bandopadhyay, and Manisha Adak, all convenors of Abhaya Mancha, passionately called for decisive action and questioned the impunity seemingly enjoyed by the alleged conspirators.
At the demonstration outside Tala Police Station, protestors accused the police of mishandling critical evidence and destroying the crime scene, with the involvement of senior officers in the Kolkata police. Abhaya Mancha expressed deep outrage that the culprits remain at large and demanded accountability from those who may have facilitated their escape. While acknowledging that Abhaya cannot be brought back, the organisation asserted that justice must be served, which is a fundamental human right. Public turnout at both programmes reflected a broader anger and a deepening call for justice.
The mounting protests and mobilisations across West Bengal point to growing public dissatisfaction with the current state of civil rights, public safety, and justice. From students demanding educational reform to women’s rights activists and specific campaigns for justice, such as that of Abhaya Mancha, these movements represent a rising collective voice that is challenging both government inaction and entrenched societal norms. The coming weeks are likely to witness a further intensification of these powerful expressions of dissent.
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