Left intellectuals on Tuesday took out a rally in the city to protest against recent communal clashes across West Bengal. Around 2000 people participated in the rally, which started from Mahajati Sadan and ended at Rani Rashmoni Road.

The rally, under the banner ‘Anti-communal Public Initiative’ (Samprodayikata Birodhi Gano-Udyog), was attended by CPI-M leader and former Kolkata mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and film maker Tarun Majumder.

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“This rally calls for strict measures by the state government to stop the series of violence and arrests and exemplary punishment of those involved. We also demand those responsible for the loss of lives be brought to book,” CPI(M) leader Satarup Basu said.

Mr Bhattacharya said, “We protest the incidents of violence in many parts of the state in the past one week during Ram Navami processions by BJP and Trinamool Congress and the brandishing of arms in many processions.”

Left-wing students of different city colleges and universities, including Jadavpur University and Presidency University, participated in the rally.

Meanwhile, around 100 intellectuals have signed a statement asking people to join a rally from Esplanade to Rabindra Sadan on 8 April for unity and brotherhood.

The statement was signed by eminent personalities.