On Sunday, members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) joined a march demanding the chief election commissioner’s resignation. Protesters carried posters and placards, raised slogans against Kumar and called for the protection of democracy.
A separate march from Sealdah to Dharmatala featured rap music, satirical posters and slogans such as ‘Gyanesh, it’s done bro!’ and ‘Vote chor, gaddi chhor (vote thief, quit your seat)’. Some participants wore skeleton masks, giving the demonstration a distinct youth-led character. The march concluded with the slogan ‘BJP, quit India’.
When the procession reached Dharmatala at around 4.30 pm, traffic came to a standstill. Organisers then held a brief rally on Rani Rashmoni Road, where Left leaders addressed the crowd under tight police security.
SFI state secretary Debanjan Dey accused the authorities of undermining democratic rights. “The entire nation has awakened; memories of the ‘Quit India’ movement have been rekindled. They are trying to snatch away our voting rights. That is why we say: BJP, Quit India,” he said.
The protests have also brought Opposition leaders together. At a conference organised by Bharat Jodo Abhiyan at Moulali Yuba Kendra on Sunday, Mamata-AITC MP Saugata Roy, CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and Congress leader Prasenjit Bose joined other political figures, lawyers and activists.
Roy said a people’s movement would force Kumar to step down, arguing that sustained public pressure could also challenge the BJP’s hold on power. The conference called for Kumar’s removal, changes to the electoral system and action over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
About the Author
