Civil society protests against Mamata govt in Kolkata

Kolkata, June 21: The civil society took to the streets here on Friday to protest the deteriorating women's safety conditions in the state and the growing public anger against the Mamata Banerjee government over various issues. The rally was joined by thousands of common people. The rally was called after the gangrape and gruesome murder of a college student at Kamduni village in Barasat earlier this month and Chief Minister Banerjee's abusing a couple of local women after the latter tried to express their grievance over their poor security.

Banerjee and some of her party leaders termed the women as 'Maoist' and the Trinamool Congress supremo later alleged that a leading media house along with the Left Front and the Maoists was conspiring to kill her.

The intelligentsia which joined Friday's rally included film directors, actors, thespians, painters, authors, poets and others. Veteran film director Mrinal Sen and actor Soumitra Chatterjee, however, could not participate owing to health reasons.

Villagers from Kamduni and also Gede and Gaighata where also brutal incidents of crime against women took place also joined the protest rally.

The civil society of Bengal had taken to the streets after the police firing in Nandigram in March 2007, which led to the death of 14 farmers and led to a massive mobilisation of public opinion against the previous Left Front government, which ultimately helped Banerjee to topple it in 2011.

The Banerjee government has drawn flak in various cases for attacking individuals for asking questions against its actions. In spheres of administration, social and economic, the government has failed to deliver as per the people's aspiration so far.

Many see Friday's rally against the new regime as history coming full circle.

OneIndia News