The Hindu : Left groups protest against war

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 22, 2003

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Left groups protest against war

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI March 21. Leftist organisations in the capital today protested against the American-led war on Iraq and urged the Indian Government to strengthen its stand on the issue.

Activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) New Democracy staged a protest outside the American Center. After displaying placards and raising slogans in support of the Iraqi people, they set an effigy of the U.S. President, George W. Bush, on fire. Four activists — Aparna (secretary, CPI-ML New Democracy), Vikas (general secretary, Delhi IFTU), Animesh (member, Delhi IFTU) and Mrigank (president, NBS) — called upon Indians to protest against the war by demonstrations, burning the American flag and boycotting American and British goods. The protesters were detained by the police.

The CPI-ML (New Democracy) has urged the Indian Government to demand the convening of the U.N. General Assembly and the declaration of Mr. Bush and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, as war criminals. It has also asked that the Indian Parliament be convened immediately to pass a resolution condemning war and extend all help to Iraqi citizens. The Delhi committee of the party will burn effigies of Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair and the American flag in various industrial centres of Delhi in the coming week.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) also expressed its "strong opposition'' to the war, stating that it would lead to the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of Iraq. It condemned Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair for attacking Iraq despite opposition from the majority of members of the U.N. Security Council and statements on Iraqi cooperation by the U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector.

The DYFI has criticised the Indian Government for "refusing to take a firm and categorical position'' against U.S. war effort, and demanded that a clear statement be issued on the same.

The Federation will organise protest marches and demonstrations throughout the country and in front of the U.S. embassy here.

`Detrimental to economy'

Scores of supporters belonging to the CPI-ML (Liberation) assembled at Parliament Street condemning the US-led war.

Denouncing it as a "blatant war of aggression and held the Bush-Blair bandwagon as the biggest threat to peace and civilisation'', the protesters displayed banners, placards and chanting slogans against the war.

Addressing the anti-war activists, the party general secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, said the war on Iraq was a "direct onslaught on the whole of Asia and the Third World. Present war is singularly detrimental to India's own economic and strategic interests, yet the pro-U.S. Vajpayee Government has refused to oppose the war''.

He said the present war was singularly detrimental to India's economic and strategic interests, yet the pro-U.S. Vajpayee Government had refused to oppose thee war. The party activists would also join the march to U.S. embassy tomorrow being organised under the banner of `Committee against war on Iraq''.

Another demonstration was held by the Lok Janshakti's minority cell. Its chief, Syed Afzal Abbas, said the manner in which Mr. Bush ignored the world opinion and the U.N. "shows the arrogance of the head of a superpower and non-understanding by a leader of a democracy which takes pride in liberty, fraternity and dignity of human being".

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