While for some participants the procession of ‘intellectuals’ was in solidarity with West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra; for others it was a demand for the inclusion of karate in Olympics.
On Friday, the city witnessed a unique rally where confusion prevailed as everyone seemed to be clueless about the purpose of the rally.
The rally was called by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had herself hit the streets against the Centre days after the CBI arrested AITC MP Srinjoy Bose.
The prominent faces seen at the rally included singer Indranil Sen and AITC MP and actor Dev alias Deepak Adhikary.
Actor Arindam Seal and poet Subodh Sarkar both of whom had recently switched their support from the Left parties to the AITC were also present. “I have come to enjoy the procession and the dances performed here,” said a young woman from Beliaghata in North Kolkata.
Gourhari Das from Tollygunge in South Kolkata admitted that he is clueless about the purpose of the procession saying, “I have come here as I was asked to do so from my studio.”
An elderly man said that he was participating in the rally because of the “relation” between the State Government and the club he is associated with. He even admitted that the concerned club receives financial support from the AITC government. Some regarded it as an AITC rally.
The rally also saw Chhau and other forms of tribal dance and there were hundreds who arrived to join the rally from adjoining suburzbs.
