Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100156511200.htm

National

Left to observe “Black Day” on October 4

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Left parties will observe October 4 as a “Black Day” to protest against the government’s “surrender to U.S. imperialism.” That day U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives here to sign the New Delhi-Washington civil nuclear agreement.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CPI, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All-India Forward Bloc said the U.S. Congress was adopting legislation approving the nuclear agreement, and the Act to be adopted by the Senate included all retrograde provisions of the Hyde Act. It also put further constraints on full civilian nuclear cooperation in India.

“There is no uninterrupted fuel supply assurance, no provision for strategic fuel reserve, no transfer of nuclear technology and steps to be taken against Iran. Any self-respecting government would have refused to sign the deal and operationalise it after this,” the parties said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

October 4 would be marked by hoisting of black flags, demonstrations with black flags, and wearing of black badges. The Left parties appealed to other democratic parties and organisations to join the protest against the Manmohan Singh government’s “betrayal of India’s sovereign interests.”