Leaders of 17 Left parties, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, stood holding placards to protest on various issues, including improper distribution and black-marketing of ration supplies, along Red Road. Answering criticism about the need for such protest during the lockdown, CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said the chief minister did not say no to their demands when they met her at Nabanna on April 7. The government is not conducting sufficient Covid-19 tests in Bengal. Our protest is against several shortcomings of both the state and Union governments.”Many, however, questioned the Left for its street show instead of emulating the Kerala model of all parties coming together to fight the disease. Responding to the criticism, a Left leader said: “Let the government first emulate the Kerala model in containing the spread of Covid-19.”The protest that lasted for 15 minutes turned chaotic when the police went to arrest the Left leaders including Mishra, Bose, politburo member Mohammed Salim and Left legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty.

Source: The Telegraph April 18, 2020 22:52 UTC