On the third day of President Barack Obama's India visit, activists of the Left parties held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here on Monday to protest against America's “hegemonic policies.”
“We don't have anything against his visit but this should not mean that our government, under pressure from America, enters into agreements which go against India's sovereignty, economic interest and the interest of farmers and labourers,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said, addressing the gathering.
The Indian government “should not give in to the pressure of President Obama's strategic and economic alliance proposals as these would only serve U.S. interests and go against the interest of the Indian peasantry, industry and retail trade.” The U.S. attempt to facilitate the entry of retail and agriculture-based multinationals in India would affect many small businesses.
On the Bhopal gas tragedy, he said the Indian government should pressure Mr. Obama to hand over the then chairman of the U.S.-based Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson, to India. About the India-U.S. defence framework agreement, he said: “Only America will completely benefit from this coalition. It is not in the interest of the people of our country.”
CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said the U.S. wanted to bring its troops here as it had done in other countries. Also, it wanted to dominate India's education system and the Human Resource Development Ministry was supporting it by welcoming foreign universities. in India.
Activists of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All-India Forward Bloc, apart from the CPI(M) and the CPI, took part in the protest.
