Kerala - Kozhikode   

Critics of Indo-ASEAN agreement join hands

— Photo: E.M. Manoj

UNITED: Tribal people join a human chain organised by the CPI(M) in Wayanad on Friday as part of a State-wide campaign against the Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.

Kozhikode: Braving the soggy weather, tens of thousands of workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) joined hands to form a human chain on the National Highway No. 17 in the district on Friday as a mark of protest against India signing a Free Trade Pact with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

Children and women lined up on the highway around 4 p.m. and stayed in the drizzle for an hour to hold hands expressing solidarity with the protest. Most of them had umbrellas to shelter from the rain. Some had plastic headgears and many wore raincoats. A few motorists joined the chain after parking their vehicles on roadsides.

There was a rehearsal and after that a final show lasting 10 minutes. Later, the participants took a pledge against the decision of the Centre to sign the treaty.

Roadsides were festooned with palm leaves and party flags. Loudspeaker announcements gave an idea to participants where to assemble. The well-planned programme saw no traffic blocks.

CPI (M) State secretariat member and Deshabhimani Chief Editor V.V. Dakshinamoorthy; Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim; CPI (M) district secretary T.P. Ramakrishnan; Kozhikode Mayor M. Bhaskaran, Indian National League leader P.M.A.Salam; Janatadal (Secular) State president N.M. Joseph , T.A. Razak, script writer; U.A. Khader, writer, P. Valsala, writer, and Kozhikode Shantadevi, actress, participated in the State-wide agitation.

The CPI (M) district leadership had chalked out the programme more than a month ago.

A campaign was organised at the grassroots. Around 1,000 reception committees had been formed to make the programme a success. At least 6,000 family get-togethers had also been held. A torch-lit procession was taken out in different parts of the city on Thursday.

A party spokesman attributed the success of the programme to the influence of the party among the common man.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

NCC sailing expedition to conclude today
Minister hails Mandela’s leadership qualities
Accident
Eight hurt in accident
Seminar held
EPF adalat for Malabar region
Foundations laid for cyclone shelter
Protest against denial of Scheduled Caste status
Anniversary of board celebrated
Seminar highlights flaws in dairy sector
Critics of Indo-ASEAN agreement join hands
Action panel plea
Six killed in accidents
Traders happy

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu