The Hindu : Front Page : Karat, Bardhan to lead protest rallies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007
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Karat, Bardhan to lead protest rallies

Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI: The Left parties are geared to launch protests against joint naval exercises with the U.S., Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal from September 4 to 9.

To mobilise people and organise a national movement against the naval exercises and military collaboration with the U.S., two “jathas” — one from Kolkata, led by CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, and another from Chennai, led by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat — will be flagged off on Tuesday. The day will also witness rallies and demonstrations all over the country.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Biman Bose will participate in the Kolkata “jatha,” which will be flagged off by veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu.

Rally in Visakhapatnam

As the naval exercises are to be held off the coast of Visakhapatnam, both jathas will traverse the coastal areas and reach Visakhapatnam for a rally there on September 8. The State units of the Left parties in West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are chalking out the “jatha” programme, including venues for public meetings.

Various mass organisations, cultural groups, and prominent personalities are also being mobilised for the programme.

The Kolkata “jatha” will pass through parts of West Bengal and the Orissa coastline and enter Andhra Pradesh to reach Visakhapatnam by September 8 morning. Similarly, the “jatha” from Chennai will enter Andhra Pradesh and cover the entire coastal belt and reach Visakhapatnam around the same time.

Public meetings

Across the routes of the two “jathas,” public meetings and receptions will be organised and slogans against the naval exercises and military collaboration with the U.S. will be taken to people through an intensive campaign.

Slogans and pamphlets, released by the CPI(M) here on Monday, harp on the Left’s opposition to the growing military collaboration with the U.S. as it “compromises” the nation’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy.

Some of the slogans, coined for the protest, include “U.S. Navy: Hands off Bay of Bengal,” “No to U.S.-sponsored economic policies,” “No to Wal-Mart and American companies in retail trade” and “Protect India’s interests, Don’t proceed with nuclear deal.”

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