WEST BENGAL

CPI(M) and the Left parties held a campaign against communalism in West Bengal to thwart the designs of communal forces, particularly of the RSS. RSS-BJP had proposed to hold rathyatras in the state, scheduled to be inaugurated by Amit Shah. Left parties have resolutely declared to resist attempts to communalise the atmosphere. Numerous street corner meetings, public meetings and rallies were organised throughout the state, particularly on and around December 6.

The peak of the campaign was a massive rally in Kolkata on December 6, at the call of Left and allied parties. The rally started from Mahajati Sadan and ended at Park Circus, marching through the six kilometre path. It took the shape of an unending human stream. It was one of the biggest rallies in recent memory in Kolkata and took at least 45 minutes to pass through a point. Tens of thousands of people from different sections of society took part. The rally reverberated slogans against communal forces; and at the same time raised the demands of livelihood. It asserted that the fight against communalism is intrinsically linked with fight for employment, wages, and remunerative prices for peasants. The rally denounced the BJP for hate mongering and questioned the complimentary role of the TMC in the state. BJP and TMC are engaged in competitive communalism and are feeding each other politically in the state. The rally was brightly red.

In the public meeting before the start of the rally, CPI(M) state secretary Suryakanta Misra said, “those who destroyed Babri Masjid are in power at the centre now. But the people of the country will resist destruction of constitution and secularism. Next fight is two day strike on January 8-9. Red flag will remain in street.”

Another huge rally marched from Tarapith to Rampurhat in Birbhum on December 10. RSS-BJP have spread tentacles in the district. With tacit support from the TMC, Sangh Parivar has tried to penetrate in villages. They have conducted aggressive programmes there. On the other hand, Birbhum is the district where democracy is being trampled almost every day. TMC has won 100 per cent district council seats without contest here, allowing no opposition to even field candidates.

The rally for communal amity received huge response and thousands of people braved terror to participate in it. It was surprisingly long and people around warmly greeted the rally. Biman Basu, Sujan Chakraborty, Ramchandra Dome were among the leaders who walked in this rally.