Massive Kolkata rally shows Left still a potent force in Bengal politics
The streets of Kolkata saw red hammer and sickle flags taking up major roads as shouts of "inquilab zindabad" were heard.
In Short
- The Left hit the streets today and paralysed city life.
- Among those, who had written off the Left, was chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
- She had deliberately planned an administrative meeting in Birbhum district today.
"Inquilab Zindabad."
The streets of Kolkata saw red hammer and sickle flags taking up major roads as shouts of "inquilab zindabad" were heard.
The Left party, being considered as irrelevant in West Bengal politics in the wake of BJP's muscle-flexing, hit the streets today and paralysed city life for some four hours in their attempt to show that the party was not out of the political map of Bengal, at least not yet.
Among those, who had written off the Left, was chief minister Mamata Banerjee. She had deliberately planned an administrative meeting in Birbhum district on the day of "Nabanna March", taking in tow with her the chief secretary and the home secretary, leaving the state secretariat completely on its own and to fend for itself.
Her lack of seriousness and concern was revealed when she was found crooning with the students of Viswa Bharati when asked for a reaction on the police action on the Left agitators.
BANGLA BIPANNA
For over a month the Left had announced and campaigned about "Bangla Bipanna/ Chalo Nabanna" (Bengal in Distress/ March to Nabanna). It was supposed to be a march to lay siege of the state secretariat of the Trinamool Congress government, Nabanna, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee has her office.
However, the march was cut short way, way behind with the state police barricading all roads leading to Nabanna.
WHEN THE MARCH TURNED VIOLENT
Even the places where the Left supporters and sympathisers congregated were hemmed in from all sides with the police lobbing teargas shells. The Left supporters tried to break through the iron railings and barricade by pelting stones. Some landed from the other side of the fence, where the men in uniform took position, as well, injuring journalists, photographers and the people on demonstration. The journalists later on sat on a demonstration in front of the Press Club, demanding immediate action against the police.
In order to control the unruly mob the police resorted to lathicharge and pelted teargas shells at Rani Rashmoni Road, Mayo road, where veteran leaders such as Left Front chairman Biman Bose and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were camping. Bose alleged that police had resorted to reckless lathicharge injuring innocent people, who were on a peaceful movement.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day even before the Left started assembling, prominent CPI(M) leader and party's leader in the state legislature, Sujan Chakrabarty and a small team of five leaders tried to barge in through the northern gate of Nabanna. They had walked in when the police intervened and arrested them.Even though Nabanna was out of bounds, the city after a long time witnessed a movement, which brought back memories of the Left Front rule when Trinamool Congress as the principal Opposition party would often embarrass the administration with its militant brand of street politics and agitation.
Whether the movement will generate enough momentum and gather steam is a story, the future will tell, but for the moment, the Left has passed the acid test of proving that it is very much a player, playing in the ring.
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