SEVENTEEN Left parties have staged a three day sit-in demonstration in Kolkata to highlight attacks on democracy in the state and to support the call of Nabanna March by peasant organisations as well as the all India General Strike on September 2. The sit-in continued day and night with frontline leaders of Left parties staying at the venue on Rani Rasmoni Road.

On August 17, at the opening rally of the sit-in, CPI(M) state secretary Suryakanta Misra lashed out against the centre and state governments and asserted that none of them would be able to thwart the General Strike this time. The struggle to defend the right to protest has become an important arena of movement in West Bengal.

Misra stated that Prime Minister Modi has initiated attacks on labour rights in the name of reform. The country presently is suffering from unprecedented unemployment situation. 13, 70,000 registered companies have been closed down in this period. 43,000 out of that have been closed down in our state. In 1957, the National Labour Conference proposed an indicator of wage. Trade unions are now demanding Rs 15,000 as minimum wage on that basis only.  There is no social security for project workers and unorganised workers in the country. On the other hand, declared price index did not match the actual price rise of rice, pulse and vegetables.

Misra said, the prime minister would not be able to pass the Land Acquisition Bill, we would resist the draconian bill at any cost.

Through these three days, leaders of Left parties and Left mass organisations addressed the sit-in. They raised the burning issues of different sections of people. Students, youth and women organisations organised a march and joined the rally. The leaders of these organisations extended their solidarity to the strike call by the trade unions. They also declared their support to March to Nabanna by the Left peasant organisations which will be held on August 27.

The sit-in ended with a rally on 19th. Biman Basu, addressing the rally, said, 17 left parties have come together for the first time to intensify peoples’ struggle. The next step is March to Nabanna. Tens of thousands of peasant and agricultural workers will march towards Nabanna to highlight their distress. We will jointly commemorate Martyrs’ Day on August 31. On September 1, Left parties will jointly organise anti-imperialism programme.  And, on September 2 the state will witness a historic General Strike.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Md Sailm said, West Bengal is suffering from acute economic crisis. Peasants are not getting fair prices. There is no security for the workers. An all-out corruption network is working at every level. Communal forces are colluding to divide the people. This is high time when peoples’ struggle should be intensified.

Apart from CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Block, the sit-in was organised by SUCI (C), CPI (ML)-Liberation, DSP, SP, CRLI, CPB, MFB, RCPI, Workers Party, CPI-ML, BBC, PDS and the Bolshevik Party.

WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES

PREPARE FOR MASSIVE STRIKE

Preparations for the General Strike on September 2 has gained momentum in West Bengal through intensive campaign. Trade unions have organised joint conventions in every district. Leaders of Central Trade Unions have unitedly addressed these conventions. Joint conventions of different sectors have also being conducted. Tea garden workers in northern districts, CPSU workers and employees, state government employees, scheme workers, railway hawkers, insurance employees, jute mill workers have gathered in joint meetings and declared their determination to make the strike a success. Strike notice has been served, in many cases with rallies and processions. Central and state government employees, along with teachers and those receiving their wages from the government have formed a joint platform. 35 organisations have joined this platform. On August 13, they served strike notice with a rally in Kolkata. They organised rallies in districts. On August 20, a huge procession marched through Kolkata at the call of these organisations. University and college teachers have also decided to join in the strike.

While all trade unions including the BMS have participated in most of these joint mobilisations, the only exception is TMC-affiliated INTTUC. In west Bengal, the strikers are readying themselves for a confrontation with the state administration.