The Voice

Today, the state wide strike in West Bengal was nothing less than being successful. With Trinamool Congress ahead in their agitation, there surely have being some very bad incidences through the state. In the previous strikes, called by the same organisation on a similar issue, concerning the Tata Motor factories in Singur, WB, the situation was not so barren as it was today!

Picture taken on 16th March, 2007. Trinamool Congress, Indian National Congress and SUCI supported "Bandh" in West Bengal.

© Somnath Paul. March 2007.

After the massacre at Nandigram, the Left Front meeting took place where the associated parties with the CPI(M) namely the Forward Block, RSP, CPI shruddered at one of the most illogical and mis strategical step taken by the Buddhadeb Bhattarcharya's government. The Union opposition led by BJP and the organisation of NDA has asked for a formal apology of the CM and also his resignation. And while this drama was setting in, Kolkata saw some pieces of violence in the 12 hours strike, from dawn to dusk. With the BDO office in Howrah ransacked and three buses being burnt in the Central hubs of the metro, the roads remained barren, and this is what I mentioned previously as difference between bandhs of yesterdays and today's!









Not a single person was seen to play on the open barren streets which is always the scenario in a state or city "Bandh". For the sake of humanity most of the people in the state supported the strike!


Picture taken on 24th December 2006. This was also a TMC "bandh" regarding Singur. But then, people did walk and some cars moved!!





There were some disadvantages like the State Board Examinations for Standard Twelve was cancelled and so was some National Board examinations, whose papers will be set specially for the State students sometime in April!



But still..the search goes on, as many children dont know for sure whether they are orphans or still have their loved ones praying for them! Still the villagers flea away from their homeland, just for the sake to live! The Right to Live have got violated, yet the government cant ensure the basic Fundamental Right, empowered by the Indian Constituition couldnt find its strong hold in Nandigram!