The Left Front has given the call for a peace rally on April 26 in Calcutta at a time reports of communal tension are coming from several parts of the country.

The decision was taken on Wednesday evening at a Left Front meeting, hours after Delhi Municipal Corporation carried out an eviction drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri where clashes broke out on Hanuman Jayanti recently.

“The Bajrang Dal has already initiated communal violence in Delhi's Jahangirpuri, which is densely populated by members of the minority community, especially Bengali Muslims, in the name of celebrating Hanuman Jayanti. Already several political parties have protested against the crime and demanded steps against the administration (for the eviction drive). It is also important for the people of our state to stay aware of this issue (communal tension),” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said in a press statement.

“A rally has been called in Calcutta in favour of peace and harmony on April 26,” the statement added.

The CPI(M-L) Liberation, the SUCI(C) and the RJD will also take part in the rally.

The CPM received national attention by being the first political party, along with the CPI(M-L) Liberation, to reach the eviction site at Jahangirpuri on Wednesday.

CPM politburo member Brinda Karat rushed to the demolition site on Wednesday and forced civic officials to stop the drive.

The CPM has also decided to mark April 22, which is Vladimir Il'ich Lenin’s 153rd birth anniversary, as Red Volunteers’ Day. The Red Volunteers are a group of members of the SFI and DYFI —the student and youth wings of the CPM — who did notable humanitarian work during the pandemic across Bengal.