Connect with people before WB Assembly polls: CPI-M leaders direct supporters

To discuss on party's technical and organizational issues, the CPI-M has organized Kolkata Plenum 2015 and the plenum, which will conclude on Dec 31, was commenced through a mass meeting at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Sunday.

CPI-M's national general secretary Sitaram Yechury, WB general secretary Suryakanta Mishra and other top leaders of the party including Biman Basu, former WB chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Brinda Karat, K. Balakrishnan, MP Md. Salim and Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar were present at the rally where they hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments.

Attacking the Mamata Banerjee government, CPI-M leader and Left Front chairman Biman Basu said, "TMC government is giving supports to them who are committing major crimes including murder and rape. We don't want to see this Bengal. We all want that West Bengal as it was before during our tenure."

"Labours of the tea estates are dying due to starvation, farmers are committing suicides here. Our government does not care about them. They are busy  holding festivals. To get rid of this situation, a movement which will create a change is needed in Bengal," he added.

Biman Basu  said that the CPI-M will hold a sit-in-demonstration in front of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s office in Kolkata on Jan 12.

"Demanding for urgent steps to return money to the chit funds' depositors, we will be organizing a sit-in-demonstration in front of CBI's office at CGO Complex in Kolkata on Jan 12. We will also demonstrate in front of all administrative premises across the state on Jan 28 to protest against the government's misrule," he added.

Challenging the critics, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said, "Those who said Red Flags have been washed away, we will like to tell them, please come here and witness today's Brigade. Our comrades have been charged under 20000 cases. TMC in the state and BJP in Centre follow the same policy. We have to fight to defeat them."

CPI-M leader and Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar suggested the party's leaders and workers to communicate with general people who misunderstood the party in previous elections.

"Many people did not elect us for few misunderstandings. Our leaders and workers should communicate with the people and convince them to end those misunderstandings. All Left democratic parties should be united here for the best result. We need more people with us to organize a powerful movement. Movement in every level of the society is needed very much to boost the Left's power," he said.

Slamming the BJP -ruled Central government, Sarkar said, "During a bad atmosphere in the country, our party is holding this plenum in Kolkata. Before coming to power, BJP promised to control inflation and the price hike of essential commodities. But they did not keep their promises, they could not control inflation."

Hitting out at the TMC-ruled state government, CPI-M MP Md. Salim said, "We are here to challenge the TMC. They looted chit fund money which were the deposits of poor people. Those TMC leaders who took chit funds' money, their properties will be sold to return the deposits and only CPI-M can do this. Government is trying to convert the youths of Bengal from self-dependent to 'Mamata-dependent'.

Alleging a secret tie up between the TMC and BJP he said, "They are continuing a join-venture for mutual benefits. We have to fight against both of them."

CPI-M's state general secretary Suryakanta Mishra said, "We have to communicate maximum number of people by reaching out them. I would request our comrades to contact at least one in every week. We have to gather more people with us. Our challenge is to gather maximum number of people who believes in democracy."

"We have very few people in our party who are not needed to be here. Those, who are not participating in party's events and trying to avoid the party, they should not be here in the party," he said.

Promising the people to gift a good governance if they are voted to power, Mishra said, "Mamata Banerjee failed to bring investments, industries and employment. If we are elected again, we will establish industries at Singur, Nayachar as well as Salboni again. A huge employment would be managed there. We can gift Bengal people a new government with developed and upgraded structure which will fulfill public demands and keep all promises."

Addressing the public meeting here, where huge number  of its supporters were present, CPI-M Polit Bureau member and former WB chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said, "At the end of this rally, I am telling you three things which should be remembered. First thing is, this country's condition is very bad now. BJP is spreading poison of communalism across the country. So, our one slogan is- 'BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao' (Drive away BJP, save India)." 

"The second thing is, TMC government is destroying the state. No job, no industry everywhere and this government is being driven by criminals. So, our another slogan is- 'Trinamool Hatao, Bangla Bachao' (Drive away TMC, save WB). The third and final thing I would like to tell you that a major battle is going to start. Be prepared for that. We have to fight and we have to win," Bhattacharya concluded.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image: IBNS)