People's Democracy

Left Front Rally for

Peace and Democracy

A HUGE rally at the call of the Left Front raised voice for peace and democracy on June 25 in Kolkata. The rally was organised, on one hand, to remember the dark period of Internal Emergency and on the other, to raise the demand of peace and defend democracy in West Bengal in the changed political scenario.

Like other districts of the state, Left Front Kolkata district committee has organised the rally on this day from Rani Rasmoni Avenue of Central Kolkata to Azad Hind Bag of North Kolkata.

It was a rainy day but the rain could not dampen the spirit. After the declaration of the results of assembly election, the Left Front workers are experiencing regular attacks that can very well be compared with the dark days of Emergency. Nineteen Left Front workers have been murdered, 671 Left Front workers had to hospitalised, 189 cases related to attack on women and molestation, 624 Left party offices have been ransacked, 193  party offices have been captured, several offices of different mass organisations  have been captured by the TMC and Congress goons. False cases have been initiated against the Left Front workers. It is against this violence and mayhem that thousands of people raised voice against in the rally.

The rally had three definite demands: protection of democracy, peace and individual rights; prevention of murder and terror; and protest against the price rise of petroleum products and essential commodities. A resolution regarding these demands was unanimously accepted in the gathering just before the start of the rally. Chairman of West Bengal Left Front Biman Basu addressed the rally. Former chief minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, leader of opposition of West Bengal assembly Suryakanta Mishra, CPI(M) state secretariat  member Rabin Deb, CPI state secretary Manju Kumar Majumder , RSP leader Manoj Bhattacharjee were present in the rally.  

Meanwhile, Left Front has strongly protested the latest hike in prices of petroleum products. There will be a week long campaign against the decision of price hike from July 4. The campaign will be conducted in local and district levels. On July 11, there will be mass demonstrations in front of central government offices throughout the state. Trade unions have taken similar programme of protest from June 28. There will be a rally in Kolkata on July 5 and a deputation will be submitted to governor, protesting the price hike.