At a time when the US was keen on making countries like India dance to its tunes, the Union government should not have invited US President Barack Obama as chief guest for the Republic Day function to be held in New Delhi on January 26, according to leaders of Left parties.
Various speakers from the Left parties voiced their concern in this regard at a demonstration held in front of the Head Post Office here on Saturday.
As police did not give permission for the agitation, 185 agitators, including 25 women, were arrested.
They condemned the US saying that it was promoting its own interests in the world and treated others as slaves. During the visit of the US President, multinational companies would try all tricks to establish their ground here. This would affect the public sector undertakings and also small retailers and investors, CPI (M) district secretary R. Vijayarajan said.
The Americans would insist on signing treaties in which India might be at a disadvantageous position. Hence, the Centre should not succumb to pressures, the protestors said.
Because of the voices raised inside and outside Parliament by the Left MPs in the past, the country was saved from very many actions which favoured the US companies, MLA R. Annadurai noted.
Those who spoke included CPI (M) State Committee member B. Vikraman, CPI district secretary R. Jayaraman, CPI (ML) office-bearer C. Madivanan, and SUCI district committee member J. Waltair.
