Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Ground turned into a sea of red on Sunday, April 20, as over a lakh people—workers, farmers, agricultural labourers, and slum dwellers— came together in a powerful show of unity.

The massive rally was jointly organised by the West Bengal units of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), and the Bustee Unnayan Samity.

Presided over by CITU West Bengal President Subhash Mukherjee, the rally saw participation from key Left leaders including CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Mohammad Salim and Tapan Sen, along with AIAWU state president Tushar Ghosh and others. The rally marked a significant mobilisation against the twin regimes of the BJP at the Centre and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, with the speakers targeting both parties for suppressing people’s movements and destroying livelihoods.

Leaders such as Amal Haldar (AIKS), Nirapada Sardar and Banya Tudu (AIAWU), and Anadi Sahu (CITU) addressed the crowd alongside Salim.

Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) state secretary Salim declared, “Millions of people in our state took to the streets to fight for justice and fairness. And what did the state government do? It tried everything to break that movement.” 

Asserting the resolve of the Left, he thundered, “No one from Cooch Behar to Kakdwip will dare to stop the fight of the red flag. When the hardworking people unite, no one has the power to stop that force.”

Salim accused both BJP and TMC of colluding to disrupt working-class unity, stating, “BJP and Trinamool are talking about taking care of each other. In fact, they are trying to break the unity of the hardworking people.”

He recalled the words of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu: “Riots happen if the government wants them, riots don't happen if it doesn't want them.”

Salim warned those trying to incite communal discord, saying, “Those who are playing to break the harmony in West Bengal should be booked. We are saying, the police should be booked.”

Emphasising the ideological foundation of the movement, he said, “This red flag was not bought with electoral bond money or chit fund money. This flag was made red through struggle and sacrifice.”

Referring to Suvendu Adhikari, Salim said, “Shuvendu said, the red flag will not be seen. And now he himself has changed the party.”

Highlighting the significance of the gathering, Salim said, “Lakhs of people have come to the brigade in this scorching sun. People have come here to start the fight. The fight starts from today. We swear that we will drive those who are leaving our homes out of the state.”

He urged all struggles to be united like a garland and said the Left must lead a tide of mass movement.

“This is not a struggle for temples or mosques. It is a struggle for livelihood. We will not let this Bengal be destroyed,” he concluded.

In his speech, AIKS leader Amal Halder issued a grave warning about the worsening condition of farmers across the country and the state.

“Farmers are in deep distress. They are being compelled to secretly mortgage their land and abandon their homes. Fair prices for crops remain a distant dream,” he said.

Speaking on the escalating input costs, Halder pointed out, “The prices of fertilizers and seeds are rising uncontrollably. This unchecked inflation is pushing the state’s agriculture towards a catastrophic collapse. The only path forward is through a united and determined struggle.”

He emphasized the looming danger of a food crisis: “The price of rice is soaring. Cultivable land is fast disappearing. Agricultural production is falling. And yet, the government appears clueless and unconcerned. If this situation persists, we are staring at a famine-like disaster.”

Taking direct aim at the state leadership, Halder added, “The entire agricultural sector lies in ruin. The loss of 26,000 jobs has thrown thousands of families into hardship. Instead of addressing this crisis, Mamata Banerjee has chosen to shield the incompetent, sacrificing those who are truly capable.”

Farmer leader Banya Tudu declared that the struggle of the working class and farm labourers would continue undeterred.

“We will see the end. We will not deviate from this path of struggle,” she said

She addressed the disconnect between mass mobilisation and electoral success, stating, “Many people say, ‘There are so many people in the Brigade, but we don't get votes.’ We need to understand that people’s struggle for livelihood and votes are not the same.”

Demanding expanded rural employment, Tudu said, “We demand 100 days of work and 200 days of work. We say either give money or give work. Not everyone has the courage to say this. We are fighting for you.”

AIAWU leaders Nirapada Sardar and Banya Tudu at the rally. Photo: FB/CPIMWB

Nirapada Sardar said the scale of the rally might shake the Chief Minister. “I doubt Mamata Banerjee will be able to sleep after watching this brigade meeting of ours. Mamata and Modi fear this working-class brigade the most.”

He criticised the lack of discussions in Parliament on job insecurity and the stoppage of 100 days’ work under MGNREGA, stating, “This is the time when the most unemployed people are born. Even students and graduates are being forced into migrant labour.”

He added that the Modi government was withholding MGNREGA funds due to TMC’s corruption.

“Modi is not giving money because Mamata has stolen. We are saying, not 100 but 200 days of work should be given. A law should be brought for this,” he added.

CITU leader Anadi Sahu strongly opposed the central government’s labour policies, especially the newly introduced labour codes.

“Today the number of temporary workers in factories is increasing. The Centre is backing corporates and trying to take away rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

“If the labour code is implemented, there will be no 8-hour workday. You’ll have to work 12 to 14 hours. There will be no permanent job, no wage guarantee. Everyone will be outside the protection of labour laws. This is a terrible situation,” Sahu explained. He warned of further curbs on trade unions and possible legal persecution of workers.

“A law is being considered to prosecute workers under non-bailable sections. This will create a dangerous environment,” he stated.

He called for a nationwide strike on May 20 to oppose these measures and fight for the rights of workers, farmers, and the unemployed.

He also warned against rising communal tensions, stating that RSS and BJP are trying to spark unrest in the state, asserting, “We must stop this and build a united people’s movement to oust the corrupt state government. We must mobilise everywhere.”

Sunday’s rally saw an estimated turnout of more than one lakh people from across the state, including thousands from north Bengal alone, many of whom began their journey to the city two days in advance. Arrangements for accommodation were made across union offices, with Entally’s Ramlila Maidan serving as the main lodging space. Nearly 900 police personnel were deployed to manage the rally, along with senior traffic officers stationed in key areas. Traffic was disrupted across central Kolkata, with road closures around Chittaranjan Avenue, Red Road, AJC Bose Road, and Park Street.

Among the key demands raised were the reinstatement of 100 days’ work under MGNREGA, reversal of the controversial labour codes, action against corruption in job recruitments—particularly the scrapping of 26,000 teaching jobs—and opposition to the Centre’s amended Waqf Act.

Reacting to the massive mobilisation, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh had earlier mocked the rally, claiming, “Those who are going to the CPI(M)’s Brigade will end up voting for the BJP. It’s just for show.”

Countering this, CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said, “At a time when people are being divided along caste and religion and corruption rules the day, this Brigade will give a message for politics that speaks for the people. Both TMC and BJP fear this resurgence—that’s why they are speaking so much about us.”