The Hindu : Protest against war on Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

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National

Protest against war on Iraq

By Our Staff Reporter

Activists of the All-India Confederation of SC/ST organisation and Lord Buddha Club, the Justice Party, the CPI (M), the CPI and the Jamiat Ulama- i-Hind protesting against the threat of a United States war on Iraq, in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW DELHI FEB. 10. Gathered under the banner of the `Committee Against War On Iraq', a large number of political leaders, particularly from the Left, social activists, academicians, artistes and student groups today staged a demonstration here urging the Government to raise its voice against the "imperialistic designs" of the U.S.

Stating that the Government should not offer any kind of assistance to the U.S., the CPI(M) politburo member, Prakash Karat, said the U.S. should be declared a "terrorist state'' and all the nations should unite against the "hegemonistic and imperialistic designs'' of the U.S. The Left parties, along with like-minded groups, would hold demonstrations all over the country, he said.

The CPI(M) leaders, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, alleged that the United States' wish to rule the world was totally against the norms of international law and in disrespect to the democratic values. Urging nations to mobilise against the U.S., they said India's response to this crisis had so far been vague and it should be forthcoming in declaring that it was against war on Iraq.

The CPI national secretary, D. Raja, cautioned that after Iraq, the U.S. could target Iran and Pakistan, after which it could be India. Another war would bring more miseries for innocent Iraqis who were already suffering due to harsh economic sanctions, he said, adding that global opinion was overwhelmingly against the war on Iraq.

The ulterior motive behind the U.S. war cries was that it wanted to control Iraq's oil resources and advance American interests in the region, he alleged, urging the Government to play a pro-active role against the American design and strongly raise the issue at global fora.

The Justice Party leader, Udit Raj, said the Government's policy of liberalisation and globalisation was just meant to please the U.S. at the cost of poor Indians and to serve the interests of MNCs.

The general secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Maulana Mahmood Madani, said India had always been against imperialist forces, but surprisingly, the Government was more concerned about the wishes of the U.S. President, George W. Bush, by totally ignoring the global opinion which was against any external aggression on Iraq.

Among those who took part in the agitation were leaders of the RSP, AIFB, CPI-ML, the Janata Dal (Secular), student groups from the Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, member of social groups and NGOs.

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