COMRADES all across West Bengal paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1959 Food Movement in Bengal by hoisting the Party flag, offering flowers at their memorial and delivering speeches.

The historic movement was constituted by thousands of farmers and workers of mills and common men who came forward on the streets, demanding the right to food, owing to the artificial scarcity of rice created by a nexus between the state government and landlords, rich peasants, rice mill owners, and traders.

When the protests reached its peak, bullets were fired on the unarmed protesters, killing hundreds of people including women.

The Food Movement will always be remembered for huge mass mobilisation organised by the Left parties and the bravery of the people who fought for their basic right to food.

Red salute to the martyrs.