Left Front calls for peace in anti-war rally in Kolkata

An anti-war march by the Left Front in Kolkata on Tuesday, which saw the CPI(M) walking along with the SUCI and CPIM(ML) Liberation and other left parties, urged for peace between India and Pakistan on the backdrop of the recent military tension between the two neighbours.

 

Mohammed Salim and Biman Bose were among the senior leaders who took to the streets and led the march from Esplanade to Sealdah in central Kolkata under the banner of “march for peace and harmony”. 

 

Since India launched the ‘Operation Sindoor’, both the leaders have been advocating for deescalation. On the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary last week, Salim, the state secretary of CPI(M), said that ordinary people living along the border were hit the most by the military tension.

 

While Bose had said that a solution must be found on the negotiation table. “The Indian Army’s initial response to the militant attack in Kashmir was appropriate. However, instead of escalating to war, it is now time for negotiation and diplomacy,” the former Left Front chairman said. 

 

Acknowledging Pakistan's support for terrorism, the Left stresses that military conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbours should be avoided. It believes diplomatic pressure should be applied on Pakistan, but not at the cost of escalating war, which could have grave consequences.

 

The left parties claimed that previous military actions have failed to eliminate terrorism, and therefore, political solutions are necessary. They had earlier urged for action against terrorism in all-party meetings but had consistently opposed war.

 

They also welcomed the decision of ceasefire between India and Pakistan but strongly criticised US President Donald Trump’s involvement. The Left reiterated that India's long-standing position has been to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally with Pakistan, without third-party mediation.

 

The Left asserted that the principle was affirmed in the Simla Agreement and questioned why the Indian government appears to be deviating from this stance, demanding an explanation from the Narendra Modi government.

 

This was the second such anti-war rally after intellectuals, civil society members and some left student organisations hit the streets in Kolkata on Monday. The demonstrators were allegedly attacked by the BJP workers who accused them of anti-national behaviour and sympathising with Pakistan-backed terrorists. 

India