Rallies raise a din ahead of new dawn

KOLKATA: The first defiance to chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s proposal to impose a blanket ban on political rallies at College Square came from trade unions and not from students’ organisations that have time and again held the education hub hostage to voice their dissent.

A rally organized by the Left trade unions and INTUC stopped traffic for around an hour at

College Street

on Friday and held a street-corner opposite the Calcutta University gate. They demanded withdrawal of the ban.

“It was here that the tram movement of the ’60s picked up pace as Left parties and students’ organisations took it to the streets protesting a hike in fare. College Square has always been a bedrock of political movements,” said Citu state president Shyamal Chakraborty.

“Political movements centering College Square goes back to the days of

Young Bengal

— the movement spearheaded by Derozio. It is not possible to dissociate the area from its legacy,” he added.

Bhangar Andolan Sanhati Committee

also staged a demonstration at College Square on Friday. Forward Bloc will take out a rally at College Square on Saturday.