Multiple rallies by Trinamool Congress and rival CPI-M over Narada tapes this week may bring back the memories of endless processions witnessed by city residents in the 60s through 90s, earning the city its infamous tag "City of Processions".
While generally speaking processions and rallies have become a thing of the past, thanks the present government's strict enforcment of rules debarring parties from holding too frequent rallies, occasionally they, including the party in power now, threw the rules to the wind.
The TMC has planned numerous rallies protesting against alleged "witch hunting" against its leaders who are purportedly trapped into accepting money in exchange for rendering servics and BJP's "vendetta politics".
On the other hand, the Left parties planned to bring out counter-rallies demanding arrest of "tainted ministers".
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has announced a "massive" rally on March 29 demanding immediate arrest of TMC leaders and ministers allegedly seen on the Narada tapes.
The TMC will organise rallies on March 30, 31 and April 3.
"On March 30, the women's wing of our party will organise a procession to be led by Chandriman Bhattacharya from College square to Esplanade.
On March 31, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee will lead a rally from Sealdah to Esplanade. On April 3 Trinamool Yuva will takde out a procession from Hazra crossing," a senior TMC leader said.
The series of rallies over the Narada tapes, first started on Mar 17 after the Calcutta High Court ordered a preliminary inquiry by the CBI into the Narada sting operation.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front first conducted a protest rally in the evening of Mar 17, demanding immediate arrest and resignation of the accused leaders.
The BJP followed suit when with a rally of its won on the same issue on Mar 21.
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