Protest Demonstration

As the battle for justice in the RG Kar Medical college rape and murder incident intensifies, the state of West Bengal is witnessing continuous mobilisations and protests. On September 2, 2024, a citizen's march was organised from Moulali to Dharmatala, in which hundreds of people joined calling for gender justice. CPIML General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, along with several leaders and activists from students-youth, working class and women organisations, Queer and LGBTQIA+ movements and civil society groups participated in the march.

‘Ensure People’s Rights, Fulfil Your Promises’, CPIML’s Haq Do, Vada Nibhao campaign mobilised lakhs of Bihar poor towards the block headquarters to remind Nitish government to fulfil its own promises and guarantee the constitutional rights of the people in the state. More than 250 block offices were gheraoed on 22-24 August in all districts of the state.

The battle for justice in the horrific RG Kar Medical College rape and murder intensifies in West Bengal and across the country. The roar is getting louder and the issue of continued violence against women has once again come to the forefront. A female doctor trainee was raped and murdered on August 9 at a seminar room on the 4th floor of the emergency ward of R G Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata.

On August 12, a 14-year-old Dalit girl was raped and murdered in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The criminal inaction and silence of the BJP-JD(U) government in this case have sparked widespread protests by CPI(ML), AIPWA, and Insaf Manch, as battle rages across the country for gender justice and an end to violence against women.

The brutal rape and murder of a female chest medicine doctor (a PG 2nd Year Medical student) inside a seminar room on the 4th floor of the emergency ward of R G Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata has shaken the entire nation. According to media reports, the preliminary autopsy report revealed deep wounds on the genitals and about ten injuries all over the body of the victim.

In response to the increasing crime and deteriorating law and order in the state post-elections, the INDIA alliance organised a statewide protest march on 20 July in Patna. Protests were held in the capital Patna as well as in Jehanabad, Arwal, Nawada, East Champaran, Ara, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and other centres.

In a significant demonstration of dissent, AIPWA organised a protest in Lucknow against the increasing incidents of violence against women in Uttar Pradesh under Yogi Adityanath's regime. The protest took place at Parivartan Chowk, with participants voicing their grievances and demanding justice. The march towards the assembly was halted by a heavy police presence near KD Singh Babu Stadium. Despite the obstacles, the protestors handed a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the Police Commissioner amidst slogans and struggles.

Railways is the lifeline of the Indian people, and is the means of livelihood for lakhs of people, but also carries the dreams of crores of citizens. Railways enables thousands of workers go in search of jobs, for students to avail education and appear for exams, for patients to avail healthcare, etc.

In the last week of June, an administrative review meeting by the Chief Minister of West Bengal mentioned the issues of Urban Development and ‘beautification’, encroachments throughout the city landscape, especially in Kolkata and in the adjacent suburbs. The day after the announcements, the police, administration and local authorities began organized crackdown on the street vendors and hawkers in different parts of the state.

Protests were held on July 1 at the call of CPIML across the country demanding postponement of implementation of three new criminal laws and that they must be placed in the new Parliament for proper discussion. Many concerns have been raised by prominent lawyers, civil society activists, political parties and the general public regarding draconian provisions inserted in new laws by the Modi government.