CPM chain in Kerala over FTA with Asean

NEW DELHI: CPM formed a 550 km human chain on a rainy Friday evening in Kerala to protest against India���s Free Trade Agreement with Asean. CPM has been opposing the pact, which will come into force from January, 2010, saying it threatened the state's economy.

The human chain from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram, to demand that Asean FTA be scrapped, was formed by thousands of party workers and supporters, including cadres, youth and children. Some Left partners in the state also participated.

Participants lined up along the western side of the highway pledging to "dump the FTA into the Arabian sea". Party general secretary Prakash Karat, chief minister V S Achuthanandan and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan joined the chain. CPM polit bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai was the first link in the chain at Kasargode.

CPM���s experiments with chains started in 1987, shortly after a human chain was formed across the breadth of the United States. The Americaness of the idea did not deter CPM���s youth wing to enact a similar feat across the length of Kerala in 1987, to promote communal harmony. The last human chain was formed by the party in 1997.

For a party, infested with infighting and low morale after the electoral debacle, the chain against FTA was an opportunity to show its strength and enthusiasm.