Martyrs Day! Left calls for unrelenting movements against twin dangers of Trinamul and BJP

31st of August, 1959!  Lakhs of the poorest people in the state had walked to Calcutta, towards the Writer’s Building, the seat of power of the anti-people and oppressive Congress govt. The peaceful, democratic yet determined march of the toiling hungry masses, were met by Chief Minister, Bidhan Chandra Ray’s police with tear gas and a brutal lathi charge. Eighty people died.

This day, commemorated by the Left Front as the ‘Martyrs Day’, saw people all over the state mourning the deaths of innocents and to offer respect to the 160 killed since 2011 and over 2500 killed over the years of left movements at the hands of the reactionary and imperialist forces. CPI (M) Polit Bureau member and WB State Secretary, Biman Basu reminded the audience at Promode Dasgupta Bhavan of that fateful day. Those miserable times, when the cries of the hungry millions who migrated to the city for a bit of rice or came alive during his speech. He reminded everybody about the barbaric role played by CM, BC Ray and Home Minister, Kalipada Mukherjee. Jyoti Basu, in an address to the Bengal Assembly then, had exposed the role played by the duo, which were in the Police Control Room, personally ordering the murderous assault on the people. The protests by the students the following day was summarily fired upon. Speaker after speaker from the Left Front, RSP, Forward Bloc, CPI recalled that inhuman and unprecedented attack on unarmed democratic protestors and vowed to lead the people to fight the current danger.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member, Buddhadev Bhattacharya called upon the people to take a ‘vow’ on this day to rise in the fight against growing imperialism, which in the quest for super normal profits sends millions hungry to bed. He said that we all were ’indebted’ to the sacrifice of the people on this day. 1947, he said was when people of India got freedom from foreign subjugation but not from hunger. He focussed on the current Mamata Banerjee govt in Bengal, which has, in just 3 years brought down a food surplus state to a deficient one. Farmers were committing suicide again; Lakhs of acres of cultivable land remained untilled.

Buddhadev Bhattacharya also used the occasion to remind the people of the danger of the fascist and communal BJP govt at the center. He slammed the efforts of the popular media to whitewash the agenda of ex-RSS pracharak PM, Modi as ‘development’ focussed. ‘Development’, he said was a mask. Whatever economic policies this govt has outlined was for the large corporations, domestic and foreign. They were being allowed loot of the most profitable of sectors, financial, defence, Railways, etc. The common toiling masses and the middle-class would have wait for the ‘Good Days’ and be happy with the ‘bitter pill’ served by the PM. He was scathing about the industrial wasteland that Bengal was turning into under Mamata, ‘extortion’ being the only policy and asked as to what would happen to the bright boys and girls graduating out of colleges. He reminded all that their future was our responsibility. He reminded the audience about the dangers of the current phase of imperialism, which is not only looting the world of all resources and the working people of the most basic levels of sustenance, but also sparking off barbaric wars on innocent people across the world.

They both called upon the people to rise in a democratic manner against the twin dangers of the Trinamul and the BJP govt.  Tomorrow, the 1st of September, the day Hitler’s Panzer division had crossed the border into Poland, which the Left parties designate as the ‘anti-imperialism’ day, will see lakhs of people walk in protest. Both Biman Basu and Buddhadev Bhattacharya gave an impassioned call to the people to rise in a ‘face-to-face’ fight against these anti-people govts. Enough was enough. This oppression and injustice cannot be accepted any more.

West Bengal Left Front observes National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day commemorating 68th Independence Day

The Sovereignty, Secularity, National Integration and Democracy as proclaimed in the Constitution of India are now in crisis. Time has come to combat the increasing threat to jeopardize the constitutional proclamations. Left Front in such a situation avows to fight against such concerted move with all its strength. West Bengal State Left Front Committee has observed National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day on 15th August throughout the state to commemorate 68th Independence Day of the country. The day was marked by organizing “Human Chain” programme in every possible corner of the state with common people from all spheres of life joining hands from 11.00 to 11.30 in the morning. Left Front Chairman and CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu along with other leaders of Left Front joined the programme in Siliguri, North Bengal. The day was duly marked by different such gatherings addressed by the Left Front leaderships. 

Earlier Left Front had decided to organize Human Chain in every locality of each district. While talking on this issue Left Fornt Chairman and CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu said that 'news of communal crisis and communal violence are meanwhile increasingly coming from different parts of the country. The country hovers toward communal crisis. Violence and killing are spreading steadfast in the country. The Army Patrol is continuing in different parts of the country but the problem remains persistent. Left Front for that reason has decided to organize Human Chain programme to observe communal harmony day'.

In one such gathering held in Central Kolkata at the Entally Market area the leader of opposition and CPI(M) Politbureau member Surya Kanta Mishra warned about the different attitudes and notions that are being shown by the rulers who are at the helm of the Nation and in the State. He stated that 'not Congress, it was the Leftists, who had called for Complete Independence. It was the Leftists, who still have the strength and political will to safeguard and protect the essence of the Tri-Colour flag that holds the prestige of India. Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Democratic, Republic. In its 42nd amendment it has been added to be a Secular and Socialist Country. It is indeed saddening that the path India has taken vouches to move its inclination far from these declarations. Instead of Socialism we are moving in the direction of the Rightist. The economic independence of the Country is now at stake. It is being dictated by the imperialist rulers of other Countries. America is directly dictating the policies that India is supposed to acquire. For this reason the Minister of the Petroleum Department is being changed frequently. India has earlier announced to acquire gas at a cheap rate from Iran via Pakistan but the diktat of America is setting new terms to block the aspiration of India because it knows that India will then move ahead in acquiring self reliant independence and will not have to adhere to dictum of dollars to. The rulers at the centre are now moving ahead to surrender to USA'.

He appealed to the people to be careful about the various policies being taken by the Central government to disturb the National Harmony. He said that 'now the call of the government is for the proclamation of Hindustan. It is frequently being said that India is to be known by Hindustan. It is a country of the Hindus. The National Integration of the Country is thus confronting destruction. So the Left Political Strength has to unite to give a sustaining fight against it. The occasion was marked by the important presence of different Left Front leaders like CPI State Secretary Manju Kumar Majumder, RSP leader Kshiti Goswami, Forward Block leader Hafiz Alam Sairani etc.

Left Front Announces Human Chain Programme on 15th August in West Bengal

'Already convicted for criminalizing and intimidating public statement the Trinamool MP Tapas Pal is neither a state minister nor a Government official; but why then the State Government spending public money is advocating for such a person in High Court?', asked the Left Front Chairman Biman Basu. The Trinamool Government has however already spent more than 11crores of Rupees last year just giving fees to advocates. Lion's share of this money has been spent for cases like deferring Panchayat Election and to anyhow prevent CBI enquiry on Saradha Scam.

While addressing the press after Left Front meeting at Mujaffar Ahmed Bhavan Thursday, Biman Basu said that the Trinamool Government is running for their own interest hooting out public interest of the state. The Government has merged into the Trinamool Congress Party. The Government is advocating for such a person who has publicly threatened to CPI(M) workers, supporters to kill them brutally by cutting throat; to rape innocent women by their partymen. On the other hand they are arresting those innocent people who are trying to raise voice against such anarchy.

Human Chain Programme on 15th August

Left Front will observe National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day on 15th August throughout the state. Left Front has decided to organize Human Chain in every locality of each district. While talking on this issue Biman Basu said that 'news of communal crisis and communal violence are meanwhile coming from different parts of the country. The country hovers toward communal crisis. Violence and killing are spreading steadfast in the country. The Army Patrol is continuing in different parts of the country but the problem remains persistent. Left Front for that reason has decided to organize Human Chain programme to observe communal harmony day'.

The Human Chain programme will be commencing between 11 to 11-30am and continue 10 minutes duration. Biman Basu has appealed to all progressive people to participate in the Human Chain programme.

LF wins 961 seats uncontested in Tripura panchayat polls

  "A total of 961 seats would go uncontested in the three-tier Panchayat election this year, which was found after completion of scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers on Thursday last. The seats were won by the Left Front candidates," State Election Commissioner Yatendra Kumar said.

 So, it stands that elections would be held in 5684 seats of the total 6646 seats as 961 seats were won uncontested, he explained to the reporters.

 The 961 seats include 922 seats of panchayats, 37 seats of Panchayat samities and two seats of zilla parishad. Altogether 13,274 candidates are in the fray, he said.

 Kumar said adequate security personnel would deployed in the poll bound areas and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has agreed to deploy additional 40 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel to the state during Panchayat election

72 Hour Sit-in Starts in Kolkata

 

Left Front in West Bengal started a 72 hour sit-in demonstration this afternoon in Kolkata against attack on democratic rights and livelihood of the people.

The sit-in in temporary make-shift will continue and will be joined in by different sections of the people. The rain continued to pour down in a continuous manner yet it was not enough of resist people from joining this protest and the dug-out was flooded by the gathering long before the demonstration was scheduled to start. People those who are attacked, evacuated have gathered along with the relatives of those who have been killed by the goons of the ruling party, they are sharing their experiences of distress and fear and together they would protest against the government who are all busy in celebrating festivals and facilitating the Ponzi big heads.

Left Front has called for this 72 hour sit-in protest movement to demand protection of democratic rights of the people in the state. The movement seeks to protest against the growing distress of social security and wretched condition of democracy. Left Front had voiced their protest against the forced evacuation, demands of collecting extortion money, continuous attacks, and intimidations and even killing of leftist activists and workers. It is all known to the people of West Bengal and even rest of the country that the attacks unleashed against the leftists of this state are carried through under direct presidency of the ruling party and the state government. A Left Front delegation met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 9th June and demanded immediate halt to unprecedented and severe political violence in the state. The left leadership said that nothing meaningful has been initiated by the state administration. Even the minors are not being spared by the TMC hooligans. The murderers of the Left activists are not being arrested. On the contrary several Left activists are being charged with false and fabricated cases. The supporters of Left Front are not being allowed to crop in their lands even. The aim of such terrorization is to cripple mass movements and democratic rights; and ultimately to abolish democratic space. But the state government paid the least attention to the demands and on the contrary barest of attacks are continued in full swing that made the governments denial status as clear as daylight.

The State Government is doing nothing to control the sky rocketing price rise. Setting up any new factory or industry seems to be a day-dream in West Bengal where the running factories are being shut down. The employability is shrinking day by day. The farmers are being deprived of equitable price and nor they are getting proper support price.

The sit-in demonstration program started today to recollect the black days of internal emergency which was declared on the very date in 1975. The attack unleashed on democratic rights during emergency is worth remembering in TMC regime where onslaught on all democratic spheres have become a practice.

Left Front Chairman West Bengal welcomed those who have gathered in the temporary dug-out made of the purpose. He said that the imposition of emergency clearly showed that the Government initiated anti-people measures. All the democratic practices were abolished. Fundamental rights conferred through the Indian Constitution became paralyzed.Since the Assembly elections in West Bengal attacks have been unleashed on the leaders and activists of the democratic movements by the police administration and hoodlums backed by the ruling party to prohibit movements based on people’s demands. False and fabricated cases are being initiated against the leaders and activists of the democratic movements. Arrest warrants are being issued against them who could not be arrested. Attacks on the houses of Left Front activists, looting, arson, terrorization and attacks on livelihood have been taking place extensively. Cattle, poultry, fishes in ponds, agricultural produce and seeds also have been looted. About 27300 farmers, agricultural laborers and share croppers have been ejected and deprived of their right of land. Near about 50000 persons have been evicted from their own houses. 157 Left leaders, activists and supporters have lost their lives in attacks by hoodlums nakedly backed by the ruling party. Thousands of Left activists have been forced to live with injury. All these have been happening in a state where emergency has not been imposed but still the ruling party is trying to trample the voice of the opposition. But it is impossible to terrorize the people for a long time. Movements have to be launched by all cross-section of the society for resurrection of democracy and democratic right in the state and for that close connection with common people has to be reinforced by taking lessons from history. He said that it is the responsibility of the leftists that they must initiate to must overcome this suffocating atmosphere of terror with confident note of people’s movement. Other Left Front leaders were there to welcome and share their views with the people gathered over there. The relatives of the martyr comrades shared their experience of spine-chilling terror and the loss of losing their near ones. They are now sitting side by side, their hands are held high and the avowal of rejection to the state government is aloud. The sit-in would continue for three days as scheduled from 25th to 27th of June.

Leader of the opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also addressed the gathering.