Addressing the Brigade rally, CPI(M) West Bengal Secretary Md Selim targeted both the TMC and the BJP. The veteran Left leader said the TMC’s corruption increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

Selim added, “Chaukidar agar chor hai toh pakrega kaun? (If the guard is a thief, then who will nab the wrongdoers?)”

The Left leader further said, “Many people used to ask me what is the difference between a rightist and a leftist? I am saying that rightists never admit their fault but leftists have the guts to admit their fault. Mamata Banerjee never admits her fault. Narendra Modi never admits his fault. But, we can. We can say a thief is a thief, call goondas as goondas, and corrupt people as corrupt people. Leftists are never afraid of anything. They can win over fear.”

Maintaining his silence on the INDIA alliance, Selim said, “We are cultivating future flowers. We have to save these flowers. We had shown our power in the panchayat election. That was a trailer. We will show the final result in the Lok Sabha election.”

DYFI state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee read out a message from the first DYFI state secretary and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

She said they met Bhattacharjee who told them, ‘“Jekhane daak pore jibon moron jhore, amra prostut (roughly translated it means ‘we are ready whatever may be the situation’).”’

“That is our inspiration for the fight ahead,” she concluded.