Eminent intellectuals of the state, including Sankha Ghosh (poet), Soumitra Chatterjee( emi-nent actor), Pabitra Sarkar (former VC Rabindra Bharati University), Kaushik Sen (actor), Asoke Nath Basu (former VC JU), Tarun Mazumdar (eminent film director), Rudra Prasad Sengupta (noted dramatist) and other poets, novelists, writers, human rights activist, drama-tists, and actors called upon all the citizens to join the protest rally on 8th April from Esplanade to Rabindra Sadan against the Islamophobia and communal violence that gripped many parts of the state on the eve and on the Ramnavami Day, 25th March. The violence assumed unprece-dented proportions at Asansol-Ranigunj where the BJP MP of Asansol, Babul Supriyo and the RSS whipped up a communal frenzy many days before Ramnavami.
At the rally, the intellectuals and civil society members condemned the violent attempts by the RSS and BJP to tear apart the social fabric of West Bengal. They also vehemently criticized the local leaders of the ruling TMC for taking part in those violent rally with the Sanghis, and fail-ing to prevent the communal outfits from carrying arms openly in the rally despite prohibition and even arming children.
Thousands of people joined this march of communal harmony and the response was spontane-ous. Left leaders of CPI(M), CPI, CPI (ML) Liberation, RSP, FB, SUCI, PDS and other forces were present. Despite failing health, Sankha Ghosh walked with the rally all along. Slogans and songs resonated loudly.
