At least 20 social and political organisations in Bengal will hold a mega rally on November 26 near the Ambedkar statue on Red Road here to observe “Save Constitution Day” to protest the erosion of constitutional values under Narendra Modi’s rule.

November 26 is observed as Constitution Day across the country to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution in the Constitution Assembly in 1949.

“Every year, we observe November 26 as Constitution Day. As we witnessed severe erosion and attack on constitutional values like justice, freedom and equality during the Narendra Modi regime, we have decided to observe the day as Save Constitution Day this year. It is a cumulative effort of all those who want to restore our constitutional values,” said Prasenjit Bose, an economist and an activist who also led a movement against the NRC.

The organisers said the Save Constitution movement would be observed to raise three major demands — restoration of constitutional values, caste-based census across the country in line with Bihar and protection of rights of tribal people in Bengal.

They said representatives of the organisations would meet soon to form a platform to hold the event on November 26 and discuss how the movement could be continued in future.

“This is not a one-day event in Calcutta but our goal is to make it a campaign like No-vote to BJP or No-NRC movement before the Lok Sabha polls. When the BJP would try to play its divisive cards, we will showcase how Dalits, adivasis and minorities were being neglected under Narendra Modi,” said one of the organisers.

Apart from social platforms, political parties like the Congress and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) will take part in the November 26 event in Calcutta and the forum will be open to any anti-BJP organisation which wants cumulative progress of the people of the country beyond any divisions.

“The backbone of all four pillars of our democracy — legislative, executive, judiciary and the media — have been broken during the time of this government. Everywhere you can see how those pillars have been either damaged or misused. That is why we all need to stand together,” said Abdus Sattar, the vice-president of the state Congress committee.

Another organiser said: “Bihar has shown how a state can conduct a caste-based survey even if the Centre opposes it. Our question is
why the Bengal government can’t do so. We also want the Bengal government to bring a law in the Assembly to save adivasis’ rights to forest, water and land in the state,” said an organiser.