July 21, 2018
Ekushe July: All roads lead to Dharmatala today
Today is July 21, Shahid Dibas. On this day in 1993, 13 valiant workers lost their lives during a rally on Mayo Road, Kolkata, after the police opened fire on them.
They were marching to Writers’ Building, led by Mamata Banerjee, then a firebrand Opposition leader, demanding that the voters’ identity card be made the only valid document to verify voters in order to stop the rampant ‘scientific rigging’ by the ruling party. Writers’ Building was then the state secretariat.
To commemorate the martyrdom of the 13 political activists, along with other martyrs who were killed during the Left Front rule, lakhs of people have converged in Kolkata from all the districts for the public meeting at Dharmatala.
This year too lakhs of party supporters have been put up by the party at various places in Kolkata. They have been accommodated in places like the Geetanjali Stadium, Milan Mela, Uttirno and various places in Kolkata, where local leaders and party workers are looking after them. All are in eager anticipation of this special day.
All roads lead to Dharmatala today. Camps have been set up at various places across the city to provide assistance to people. Commemorative gates have also been put up at important intersections. Proper fire safety arrangements have been made, as well as arrangements for drinking water and medical emergencies.
(File Pic from earlier year)
