Left organisations to launch stir against intolerance

With an eye to the 2016 assembly polls in West Bengal, over 100 Left parties and organisations will launch a state-wide agitation from Saturday against the "growing intolerance" in the country and "attacks on democratic rights" in the state.

To be launched by former chief minister and CPI-M leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the agitation is being conducted under the banner of Bengal Platform of Mass Organisations (BPMO) comprising 113 mass organisations of Left parties and other outfits and will continue till November 30.

Charging the BJP and the Trinamool Congress with spreading communalism and intolerance, the Left leadership said the agitation was aimed at extending direct contact with the masses.

"Through our earlier agitations the people of Bengal have realised that it is the Left and not the BJP that can oust the Trinamool Congress and end its reign of terror," BPMO convener Shyamal Chakraborty said.

"We will continue our fight against price rise, communalism, intolerance and reign of terror by the Trinamool," added Chakraborty, also the state unit president of Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the CPI-M's labour wing.