Thousands of people, including eminent poets and theatre persons, took part in a civil society rally in Kolkata on Sunday, against the recent communal clashes in the State over Ram Navami celebrations. The rally, which covered a distance of about 4 km, started from Esplanade in central Kolkata to Rabindra Sadan in south Kolkata, was backed by 17 Left parties, including the Left Front.
Eminent poet and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Sankha Ghosh, thespian Rudraprasad Sengupta, director Tarun Mazumdar and former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly, along with several other civil society members, took part in the rally.
“I walked in the rally despite my ill health in the interest of communal harmony, which has been recently jeopardised in the State,” said Mr. Ghosh, amidst slogans of “unite against communalism and fundamentalism” and “we want unity among religions and not division”.
Noted actor and recipient of Legion d’Honneur Soumitra Chatterjee sent a written statement in support of the rally. “Even two years back, the situation was not like this in Bengal. But now, we are witnessing such situation [clashes over Ram Navami]. It is a threat to humanity,” said Mr. Chatterjee in his statement.
Referring to the recent clashes between two communities over Ram Navami celebrations Justice Ganguly said that he participated in the rally, “in the interest of peace and communal harmony and in protest against the divisive politics of certain political outfits.”
BJP scoffs
Scoffing at the rally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Dilip Ghosh said, “These civil society members do not have any credibility and are isolated from the people. Once in a while, they come out on the streets at the behest of a political party.”
