Left parties unite against imperialism

15,000 gathered to show their solidarity with Palestinians

September 02, 2014 10:08 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:50 pm IST - KOLKATA

Workers of Left parties taking out a rally against anti-imperialism in Kolkata on Monday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Workers of Left parties taking out a rally against anti-imperialism in Kolkata on Monday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

: Thousands of supporters of the Left Front and other parties, including pro-Naxal factions that broke away from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the late 60s, joined hands to participate in an ‘anti-imperialist’ rally in Kolkata on Monday.

Politbureau member of the CPI-M, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, however, did not attend the rally. Many CPI-M cadres in the party, who attended the rally, were upset about this decision.

A total of 15 parties walked from Ramlila Maidan in Moulali in the city’s central area to Deshbandhu Park at northern Kolkata’s Shyamabazar to show their solidarity for the Palestinian people in Gaza, opposing policies of Israel and other ‘imperialist' forces including the U.S..

On this day, Nazi Germany and Slovakia invaded Poland, beginning the European phase of World War II. The police claimed more than 15 thousand people participated in the rally.

Calling for all Left parties to unite against anti-imperialist forces, chairperson of the State Left Front committee Biman Basu said imperialism also applies to the control of market economy. He criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre for supporting this policy.

“The Central government too is mum on the US policies and in this way they are becoming a silent partner of the capitalist policies of the US,” he said. Mr. Basu earlier this month met pro-Naxal CPI(ML) State leadership and invited them to join the anti-capitalist rally in Kolkata scheduled for Monday.

Both the CPI(ML) and SUCI had given a nod to the invitation of the Left Front and joined the rally.

Accusing the U.S. of creating Frankenstein’s monsters out of certain countries, Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra said America was now forced to face the monsters it created. “The U.S. is now trying to create a divide between Shia and Sunnis, and not among Hindus and Muslims,” Dr. Mishra said.

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