People's Democracy

BIG RALLY OF YOUTH IN KOLKATA CALLS FOR  PRO-EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

B Prasant

THOUSANDS of young men and women congregated at the Esplanade area now called the metro channel (because of the proximity to the Kolkata Metro central station) during the afternoon hours of October 18. They had but two slogans to raise: industrialisation for employment, and industrialisation for the unemployed youth! Scores of effigies of those who stood against industrialisation of Bengal and against the Singur project in particular, were put to the flame.

There was anger. There was no frustration. There was rage. There was no sadness of afterthought. There was hope. There was no melancholy in evidence. There was the vigour of youth organised under the Red banner. There was no indiscipline that was later to become the hallmark of the Trinamulis� attempted assault on the HQ of the Kolkata Police at Lal Bazar (effectively contained by the police without there being any actual clashes or even show of arms.

Then, there was elsewhere in the city rioting of the Trinamuli goondas like the sad unpleasant incident near Charu Market in Tollygunj. Trinamuli mastans and goondas had run riot there, burning a dozen odd vehicles, attacking the police, putting to flame eight police jeeps and vans, ransacking shops � and all in the name of didi for hers is the �word� to follow on �return of land to farmers.�

Why choose Charu Market? The more important question is perhaps why they do not dare prefer Singur now-a-days for these so-called protestations. The answer assumes frightening dimensions for the hirelings of the Trinamulis. The entirety of Singur � irrespective which political affiliation the people indulge in � have risen up against the great betrayal of the Trinamuli chieftain and her hirelings (some indigenous, others hardly so, some native to Singur, others not quite that), and vast and angry processions are taken out every day, mornings and evenings, with the slogans: �revive the Singur factory, and down with the Trinamuli viswasghaat.�

Dare she now flaunt her pro-kisan image at Singur? More to the point, would she be able to go even near Singur in the near future? In the meanwhile, the youth rally is followed by rallies and marches by the toiling masses elsewhere in Bengal, and while not all the programmes are centred on Singur, industrialisation with a pro-people outlook is the theme of these people�s actions orchestrated by the Bengal CPI(M) and the Left mass organisations.

TRINAMUL GOONS KILL MADRASAH HEADMASTER

Comrade Ala-ud Din Mollah never expected that he would find himself at the end of a plethora of gun barrels. Comrade Mollah was a much respected figure at Haroa and Minakhan block areas as the reputed headmaster of the Antpur High Madrasah.

Comrade Mollah was living for some time now away from his village since just after the Trinamul Congress captured a few Panchayat seats at the village level, near his place of residence. Along with him were forced to flee 180-odd CPI(M) workers. Comrade Ala-ud Din�s long political association with the CPI(M) was an established fact.

On October 20, Comrade Mollah and the other ousted comrades were on their way back to their native village cluster following an all party meeting. All of a sudden, a group of armed Trinamuli anti-socials surprised them while they were negotiating a lonely stretch and the attackers � there were at least a dozen of them � started to fire at them indiscriminately.

The response of these lumpen elements to Comrade Ala-ud Din�s surprised inquiry about �what is it that you want,� was a volley of gun fire. He died on the spot. Nine other homeless returnees were left with severe to near-mortal bullet injuries. The CPI(M) Bengal state committee has strongly condemned the murder and the attack. There was a total strike at Haroa and Minakhan blocks on October 21. The attackers have yet proved elusive.