In a resounding display of unity, Kolkata witnessed a massive gathering on 13 May as Left-wing parties and progressive citizens rallied against the growing tide of war hysteria, communalism, and terrorism. This protest, organised by a coalition of Leftist parties—including CPIML Liberation, CPIM, CPI, SUCI, and RSP—and supported by hundreds of citizens, called for peace, justice, and diplomacy. Days after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack and the loss of twenty-six precious lives, we still do not know when the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
Addressing the protest march, CPI(ML) Central Committee member Jayatu Deshmukh stated that a resounding rejection of war and a commitment to people-to-people solidarity will form the foundation for lasting peace and stability in the region. The ceasefire should be used as the first step towards complete de-escalation. Both India and Pakistan must withdraw the announcements made in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and restore full diplomatic relations. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, and measures must be taken to ensure lasting peace and promote friendship and cooperation in the region.
The protest followed a disturbing incident on 12 May, when BJP goons attacked a peaceful march organised by citizens opposing the dangerous rhetoric of war and communal hatred. Peaceful demonstrators were met with violence, as BJP thugs launched an unprovoked assault on the rally, injuring several protestors. Shockingly, instead of protecting citizens exercising their democratic rights, the Kolkata Police arrested over a hundred peaceful marchers.
CPI(ML) West Bengal State Committee member Malay Tiwari remarked, “A large contingent of police and RAF personnel had been deployed at the site. Shockingly, instead of protecting the peaceful demonstrators, the police and RAF ended up arresting us - ordinary citizens exercising our democratic right to protest.”
Earlier that day, local BJP leader Sajal Ghosh had posted threats on social media targeting the march. A large group of BJP members gathered at the venue under his leadership just as the rally was about to begin. Although the police initially blocked their path, they soon returned by another route and launched an unprovoked attack on protesters - many of whom were senior citizens - by throwing burnt oil on them. Rather than acting against the BJP goons, the police chose to arrest peaceful demonstrators,” Malay Tiwari said. The rally was organised under a clear slogan: “Say No to War. We Want Peace.” It is important to note that this call was issued by civil society even before the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced.
The right-wing attack on protesters and the heavy-handed response by the authorities has only strengthened the resolve of Kolkata's citizens, who returned to the streets the next day in even greater numbers.
An anti-war protest was also organised by CPI(ML) in Siliguri, where Politburo member and West Bengal State Secretary Comrade Abhijit Mazumdar addressed the march, calling for an end to warmongering, communal hate, and terrorism.
Bihar: Anti-War Marches Uphold Shared Heritage and Anti-Imperialist Nationalism
Standing firm under the banner of Indian nationalism rooted in anti-imperialism and shared sacrifice, the CPI(ML) and the All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) held statewide programmes across Bihar on 10 May, raising their voices against war-mongering, communal violence, and repression, while calling for peace, harmony, and justice. These events coincided with the anniversary of the First War of Independence against British rule, which began on this day in 1857.
Marches were organised in Patna, Ara, Paliganj, Masaurhi, Gaya, Nawada, Buxar, Banka, and other locations to honour the martyrs of the freedom struggle. In Patna, a march began at the GPO Golambar and culminated in a gathering near the Buddha Smriti Park.
Addressing the gathering in Patna, CPI(ML) Politburo member Meena Tiwari said, “The terrorist attack in Pahalgam is deeply sorrowful. The perpetrators must be given the harshest punishment and brought to justice through legal means, but we must not permit war hysteria in its name. We must not forget that India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed neighbours. People in both countries cannot afford another war. Reject the war frenzy, reduce tensions, and work towards lasting peace. The most affected by war will be women and children. The Indian government should resolve this through diplomatic dialogue.”
Uttar Pradesh
On May 10 at the call of Insaf Manch of Uttar Pradesh, a convention took place at Nehru Yuva Kendra near the famous Lucknow Residency to mark the 168th anniversary of the 1857 uprising. The convention began by mourning the Pahalgam terror victims and endorsed the cry for peace and justice raised by the Pahalgam victim families. The convention appealed for de-escalation between India and Pakistan and resolved to intensify the battle to defend the Constitution of India and the great legacy of India's anti-colonial freedom movement.
Student Protest and Online Campaign
On 9 May, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) organised a demonstration in Kolkata, calling for peace and urging the government to engage in dialogue rather than conflict. “Let us say a loud no to another India-Pakistan war,” said AISA activists, urging both governments to prioritise diplomacy and avoid the devastation that war would bring.
Following the protest, the AISA activists were harassed, doxxed, and subjected to threats by right-wing goons and warmongers. A police FIR was filed by the activists in response to these threats.
As part of the broader anti-war movement, a nationwide online campaign - #SayNoToWar was launched on 9 May on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The campaign quickly gained traction, with thousands of citizens from across the country joining the virtual protest. It became a nationwide call for peace and an unequivocal rejection of communal violence and terrorism.
The solidarity shown both online and, on the ground, represents a growing wave of resistance to the war-mongering rhetoric propagated by sections of the political establishment. Rejecting war hysteria, the voices unanimously condemned terrorism and communal hatred, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack and justice for the victims.
Compilation of Statements Issued by CPIML During India-Pakistan Conflict
Opt for deescalation and diplomacy, avoid another India-Pakistan war
The
Government of India and Indian Armed Forces have informed the country
about the demolition of nine terror-training camps across Pakistan past
midnight in the early hours of 7 May. The Indian authorities have
attributed the operation to credible intelligence inputs and have
described it as a precise and restrained response carried out with a
calibrated and non-escalatory approach. Pakistan however talks of
civilian casualties including women and children. In the aftermath of
Operation Sindoor, there are already reports of cross-border firing and
several civilian deaths in Jammu and Kashmir.
Clearly
there are alarming signs of yet another Indo-Pak war looming large. All
efforts must be made to prevent a war between the two nuclear-powered
neighbours and explore the whole range of non-military diplomatic
options to curb terrorism and deescalate tension.
The
Government of India has also announced an extensive exercise of mock
drills in more than two hundred centres across the country. The last
time mock drills had happened on such a big scale was in 1971 when India
and Pakistan had actually been involved in a major war. While mock
drills are techniques of bolstering security by spreading public
alertness, we must make sure that such drills do not vitiate India's
internal climate and create a jingoistic clamour for war.
The
name Operation Sindoor ostensibly invokes the agenda of justice for the
women who have lost their husbands in the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Justice for the victim families calls upon us to respect their voices,
their call for maintaining peace and harmony and their concerns about
the multiple lapses that enabled the terrorists to carry out the heinous
attack. Action must be taken against the troll army and influential
political voices who are indulging in hate-mongering against courageous
women like Himanshi Narwal and Shaila Negi.
In
the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and now Operation Sindoor,
internet is flooded with claims, counterclaims and fake news. While
checking the flow of fake news and misinformation, the right to freedom
of expression and dissent must not be suppressed. The fabricated charges
against Bhojpuri folk singer Neha Singh Rathore, Lucknow University
professor and political satirist Madri Kakoti, dugital news channel 4PM
network and now the 'disappearance' of the YouTube channel of journalist
Punya Prasun Bajpai point to a new phase of heightened attacks on
dissent by terming it anti-national.
We
call upon the government of India to stop this policy of suppression
and appeal to all justice-loving Indians to stay firm and united against
all kinds of terror, hate and repression and continue to uphold peace,
harmony and democracy. We also call upon the government of Pakistan to
stop the terror camps in Pakistan, and appeal to the people of Pakistan
to raise their voice against terror and war. Across the India-Pakistan
border, let us say a loud no to another India-Pakistan war and mount
pressure for bilateral deescalation of tension.
- Issued by CPI(ML) Central Committee on May 07, 2025
Truth is Under Siege - Resist the Gag on Independent Media
We
express our deepest concern and strongest condemnation over the Indian
government’s intensifying assault on independent journalism. The
arbitrary blocking of access to respected media platforms such as The
Wire, Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat and Free Press Kashmir, and the
targeted censorship of individual journalists like Anuradha Bhasin
reflects a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms and constitutional
rights.
At a time when fake news and
jingoistic propaganda dominate the mainstream airwaves, it is the voices
committed to factual reporting that are being silenced, vilified, and
attacked.
It is also alarming that the
Central Government has reportedly issued arbitrary orders to X (formerly
Twitter) to block nearly 8,000 accounts, including those belonging to
journalists, activists, media houses, academics, and ordinary citizens.
This mass digital censorship, conducted without any explanation or legal
transparency is a blatant violation of the right to freedom of
expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
The freedom of press and expression cannot be sacrificed at the altar of jingoism.
We also strongly condemn the orchestrated targeting of voices calling for de-escalation and peace.
We appeal to all justice-loving Indians to stand firm and united against this throttling of voices of sanity.
- issued by Central Committee, CPI(ML) on May 9, 2025
On India Pakistan Ceasefire Agreement
So,
India under Modi now needs 'a long night of American mediation' to
agree to a ceasefire after three days of growing concern in the country
about the consequences of a full-scale India-Pakistan military conflict.
The news of a ceasefire was broken by Trump and his officials before
being corroborated by India and Pakistan.
Wish
the two regimes listened to their own people and did not leave room for
American intervention. Shame on the dominant media in India and
Pakistan which were busy whipping up war hysteria, spreading fake news
to claim victory and celebrate and sell war as entertainment.
The
ceasefire should be used as the first step towards complete
de-escalation. Both India and Pakistan should withdraw the announcements
made in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and restore full
diplomatic relations between the two neighbours. The perpetrators of the
Pahalgam terror attack must be brought to justice and measures taken to
ensure lasting peace and promote friendship and cooperation in the
region.
The Modi regime must withdraw
the various arbitrary measures taken over the last few days in the name
of national security and guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens
and media platforms who raised questions about the multiple lapses that
enabled the Pahalgam terror attack, rejected hate and jingoism and
insisted on peace and justice.
- Issued by Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML) on 10 May 2025
The PM's silences remain louder than his assertions.
Twenty
days after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack and the loss of
twenty-six precious lives we still do not know when the perpetrators
will be brought to justice. Trump and his administration have told the
whole world that the ceasefire was the result of 'a long night of
American mediation' and that India and Pakistan would negotiate on a
range of issues at a neutral venue.
By
keeping quiet on these claims, the PM has failed to assure the people
against American or third party intervention in the bilateral affairs
concerning India and Pakistan. Equally disturbing is the PM's
conspicuous silence about the abusive trolling and hate mongering
directed against Pahalgam victims like Himanshi Narwal and now the
Foreign Secretary, and his family and the blatant lies propagated by
Indian television channels.
We need an urgent parliament session for the government to answer these pressing questions.
- Issued by Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML) on 12 May 2025
