Over 500 members of at least 20 social and political organisations in Bengal on Sunday observed "Save Constitution Day" in front of the B.R. Ambedkar statue on Red Road here and mounted an attack on the Narendra Modi government for the erosion of constitutional values.

“This is just the beginning of our agitation with three major demands across the country. We will continue our protests in different districts of the state and outside Bengal in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” said activist-cum economist Prasenjit Bose, who was one of the organisers of the event.

Apart from the safeguarding of the Constitution, the organisations also demanded a caste-based census across the country and the protection of adivasis’ rights to land, water and forests in Bengal.

The agitators first paid floral tribute to the statue of Ambedkar before kicking off their protest against the Centre. The event started around 1.30pm and continued for around three hours.

People from different districts, including those who have been protesting against the Deocha-Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum, were present at the protest. Saradindu Biswas, one of the chief activists of the Jai Bhim India Network, presided over the event.

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

The organisers said they all had come together as they felt the importance of protecting the Constitution for the common people of the country.

“Our Constitution gives us our right to our livelihood. The government is bound to give us jobs for 100 days because of our Constitution. The Constitution is the base of us. As a building can’t stand without a base, we can’t live without our rights in the Constitution,” said Avik Saha, convenor of the Jai Kisan Andolon who was present at the event.

The Jai Bhim India Network, the Jai Kisan Andolon, the Adivasi Adhikar Mahasabha (which is fighting against the Deocha-Pachami coal mine) and the United Forum for All Adivasi Organisation were among the social organisations which took part in the observation of the Save Constitution Day. Representatives of the Congress and the CPI-ML also participated in the programme.

“The caste-based census is always important for us. If Bihar can conduct such a census as a state, then why has our West Bengal government been fleeing from it? asked Abdus Sattar, the vice-president of the state Congress committee.

A cultural group in Calcutta staged a drama at the protest venue. Golaper Kuchkawaz (Parade of Roses) depicts the assault on democratic rights by the current political power.

“Roses are symbols of love, peace and softness. We tried to show people our situation that led the roses to hit the streets,” said Shatadal Chakraborty, the director and playwright of the drama.