“THE message of September 27,  ‘Bharat Bandh’ must be taken to every house and aftermath of its success shall open up scope of bigger battles in the country. We must mobilise peace-loving, democratic-minded and patriotic countrymen behind the issues of ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the SKM,” said Manik Sarkar, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M). He was addressing a massive convention in Agartala Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan on September 21, 2021 at the call of five Left parties, namely CPI(M), CPI, RSP, FB and CPI(ML). The convention was presided over by CPI(M) Central Committee Member Aghore Debbarma.

At the outset, condolence resolution in remembrance of Gautam Das and Shymal Roy, both secretaries of CPI(M) and AIFB respectively, was read out in the convention. Narayan Kar, state secretariat member of CPI(M) presented the resolution on behalf of the five Left parties in solidarity with the SKM’s call of Bharat Bandh on September 27 and it was adopted in the convention with high applause. 

Sharply criticising the anti-people policies of the RSS and BJP-led central government, Manik Sarkar said, all its policies and programmes are formulated for the benefit of the monopoly capitalist who are amassing assets in an amazing manner. All the decisions and measures of the central government are aimed at serving the big corporates at the cost of fleecing the working people of the country.

Naturally, Manik Sarkar continued, the people are coming to the streets in protest in a bigger number.  The farmers are carrying on historic struggle continuously for more than 300 days. Large number of the people from various sections stood in solidarity with the kisan movement. The government, instead of reading the angry pulse of the people, on the contrary, has left no stone unturned to suppress the movement and divert the people’s attention from real problem faced by them through provoking distrust and dividing the people on religious, caste and racial lines. In this way the ruling parties are out to channelise the popular anger in a wrong path.

Hailing the  joint declaration of 19 political parties for nationwide movement  on 11 point charter of demands, Manik Sarkar said, where there is no opportunity to speak out in the  Parliament, there is no alternative left with the people but to coming out to the streets.

Coming to the recent barbarous attacks on the Left parties in Tripura  by the ruling party miscreants, Manik Sarkar said, it is not the sign of their strength, rather it is their weakness.  They shamefully failed to refute the issues raised by the Leftists.   Thus, they unleashed such heinous attacks, Manik Sarkar said and warned the people that, the Leftists must not be trapped to be prey to their provocation. Unlike the violent drive of the ruling partis, we must carry on campaign and protest in a democratic manner, Manik Sarkar advised.   

Elaborating on the negative aspects of the three farm laws and  proposed new electricity bill, CPI(M) state secretary, Jitendra Chaudhury said, before coming to power in 2014, BJP in their electoral pledge assured MSP and implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations. But, like all other promises made by the BJP, this promise was also proved to be a hoax.

Other speakers who addressed the mass convention were Yudhisthir Das of CPI, Dipak Deb of RSP, Dulal Deb of AIFB and Partha Karmakar of CPI(ML) .