This is an archive article published on January 7, 2024
‘Panchayat election was a trailer, wait for Lok Sabha polls,’ Bengal CPI(M) Secretary Md Selim
Addressing the Brigade rally, CPI(M) West Bengal Secretary Md Selim targeted both the TMC and the BJP.
Written by Atri Mitra
Kolkata | Updated: January 8, 2024 09:07 AM IST
2 min read
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Workers of Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of CPI(M), take part in a rally towards the venue of a public meeting of DYFI organised following the culmination of its 50-day-long 'Insaf Yatra', in Kolkata. (PTI)
After almost 16 years, CPI(M) youth wing DYFI organised a mega Brigade rally in Kolkata on Sunday. The rally marked the culmination of the 50-day ‘Insaaf rally’ held across the state.
Addressing the Brigade rally, CPI(M) West Bengal Secretary Md Selim targeted both the TMC and the BJP. The veteran Left leader said the TMC’s corruption increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.
Selim added, “Chaukidar agar chor hai toh pakrega kaun? (If the guard is a thief, then who will nab the wrongdoers?)”
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The Left leader further said, “Many people used to ask me what is the difference between a rightist and a leftist? I am saying that rightists never admit their fault but leftists have the guts to admit their fault. Mamata Banerjee never admits her fault. Narendra Modi never admits his fault. But, we can. We can say a thief is a thief, call goondas as goondas, and corrupt people as corrupt people. Leftists are never afraid of anything. They can win over fear.”
Maintaining his silence on the INDIA alliance, Selim said, “We are cultivating future flowers. We have to save these flowers. We had shown our power in the panchayat election. That was a trailer. We will show the final result in the Lok Sabha election.”
DYFI state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee read out a message from the first DYFI state secretary and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
She said they met Bhattacharjee who told them, ‘“Jekhane daak pore jibon moron jhore, amra prostut (roughly translated it means ‘we are ready whatever may be the situation’).”’
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“That is our inspiration for the fight ahead,” she concluded.
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More