People's Democracy

B Prasant

TWO massive rallies held in Kolkata and Siliguri over September 27-28 saw thousands of people join voices to condemn the imperialist designs the world over. These were among the largest rallies the state has witnessed in recent times, and brought to memory the overnight vigil the Left Front had organised during an anti-imperialist rally in Kolkata over two decades back. This time, too, the Kolkata rally continued throughout September 27 night, with a large assemblage listening to the speeches, interspersed with songs and recitals.

The rallies started on September 27 afternoon. State units of the SFI, DYFI and other Left student-youth organisations initiated the first session of the programme. Former student leader, Left Front chairman and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Biman Basu congratulated the students and youth of Bengal for keeping afloat the glorious anti-imperialist traditions of the state.

Basu also moved the resolution condemning the attacks that took thousands of lives in the US and also condoling the death of people in Palestine at the hands of the US-backed Israeli regime.

The session was also addressed by former student/youth leaders like Shyamal Chakravarty and Mohd Salim as well as leaders of the SFI, DYFI, AIFB, RYO, AISF, AIYF and other Left student-youth organisations.

The Kolkata unit of Left Front then took over the dais as the second session of the rally commenced. Among others, Prasanta Kumar Sur and Haridas Malakar (CPI-M), Himanshu Das (CPI), Nihar Roy Chaudhuri (FB), Parimal Routh (RSP), Moni Pal (SP) and Biren Chakravarty (FB-M) addressed it. The rally continued through the night amidst great enthusiasm.

Addressing the assemblage next day, state CPI(M) secretary Anil Biswas said the rally that was planned as part of the statewide protest against the IMF-World Bank was now being held on the issue of war and peace. He said there could be no two minds about condemning terrorism. Yet one must also keep in mind that there were more than 400 terrorist outfits in the US itself.

Biswas also highlighted the US interest in Middle East oil and the US acts of aggression, directly or otherwise, in Latin America, Asia and Africa. He said the recent Pakistani and Indian overtures to the US imperialists would have a disastrous impact on the future of Kashmir. Biswas also lambasted the role of certain Hindu fundamentalist outfits in spreading fear among members of a particular religious community. Other speakers included Manju Kumar Majumdar (CPI), Khshiti Goswami (RSP) and other Left Front leaders.

At Siliguri, the anti-war, anti-globalisation rally was held in Bagha Jatin Park with a massive assemblage of people from 6 north Bengal districts. They came from as far as the Bhutan border to the north and Assam border to the east, and stood in the fierce sun to listen to the speakers. Ashok Bhattacharya, Manik Sanyal, Jogesh Barman, Anil Saha and Pradip Nath (CPI-M), Piyushkanti Guha (CPI), Smritish Bhattacharya (Forward Bloc), Radha Chhetri (AIDWA) and others addressed the rally.