Eminent Kolkata residents to walk against anarchy

Expressing alarm over the 'growing anarchy' in West Bengal, a host of eminent personalities and intellectuals of Kolkata propose taking out a silent protest march in the city on Independence Day-eve.

The march, that will be taken out on August 14, will seek establishment of democracy and rule of law in the state.

Among those who have convened the march are eminent film director Mrinal Sen, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee, former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly and former city mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

"A hellish environment is prevailing in Bengal where rapes and murders have become the order of the day. What is more alarming is the administration has been rendered a mere puppet at the hands of those in power," Ganguly told mediapersons here on Tuesday, informing about the march.

"It's time the common people stand up against this anarchy and hit the streets to protect democracy and establish the rule of law," he said, referring to several incidents including the recent lynching of a college student in the state's West Midnapore district.

Bhattacharya, also a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader, asserted the march to be bereft of any political colour and agenda with the only motive being restoration of democracy.

"It will be a silent march but will resonate the concerns, the pains as well as fact that the people will not take lying down this continuous attack on democracy. This march is against this government which has brought in anarchy but there is no political colour or agenda," he said.

"There will be no slogans, no banners. We want to make the rulers realise the power of silence. But if this fails to make an impact we will not sit quiet, the people of Bengal will not sit quiet," added the noted advocate.