People's Democracy

Huge Kolkata Rally

Strongly Protests Terror

From Our Special

Correspondent in Kolkata

‘WE will not bow down to Trinamool Congress terror and the conspiracy of the West Bengal government.’ This was the slogan of the huge ‘Vidhansabha Chalo’ rally at Rani Rashmoni Road, Kolkata on August 12, where the Left leadership called upon thousands of people gathered for the rally to prepare for a series of intensive struggles ahead. The Left leadership appealed for greater struggles protesting against post-election terror, indiscriminate killing of Left workers throughout the state, fake cases against comrades, confiscation of property and incessant intimidation.

From this ‘March to Assembly’ rally, the Left Front submitted a deputation to the Governor detailing the above incidents committed by the Trinamool Congress and the dubious role of its government in this violence. The rally witnessed a huge gathering, despite incessant rains.  

Biman Basu, the state Left Front chairman, said that not only the Left workers but also common people in large numbers are being assaulted and intimidated both by the government and Trinamool Congress. The government is now attacking democratic and individual rights of common people. We must launch intensified programmes to protest against such terror and anarchy.

CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee calling for an immediate halt to the violence claimed that the ‘reign of terror’ had not stopped even for a day after the new government took office. “The government itself is engaged in perpetrating terror activities. Instead of taking action against the ‘Maoists’ the government is acting against us. Thirty comrades have so far been killed, houses have been looted and people evicted forcefully from their properties. Continuous intimidation is going on in different college campuses. Leaders and workers of the Left Front have been arrested after being implicated in false cases. Members of panchayats are being barred to do the mundane administrative jobs. Farmers are being prevented to till their own lands, Sharecroppers are being continuously thrown out of their lands throughout the state.”

The former chief minister accused the government of not taking any steps against ‘Maoists’ in Jangal Mahal. “The reports show the serious regrouping of ‘Maoist’ forces in those areas. They are the real danger to the state. The government instead of taking any concrete step against them is hell bent upon to terrorise Left Front activists. If the situation does not improve, the Left will develop their own ways to resist”,  asserted Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The Left Front chairman Biman Basu said that the government is initiating a silent terror campaign in the state. The leader of the opposition has written to the government several times but nothing has been done so far to stop the violence. Basu also criticised the UPA-II government for the severe price rise of essential commodities. He said the  Trinamool Congress was a silent supporter of the economic fiasco being perpetrated in the country.

Other Left Front leaders, including leader of opposition in the state assembly, Suryakanta Misra addressed the gathering.