Kochi to host two-day meeting of Leftist parties of South Asian countries

KOLKATA: For the first time, Kerala will be hosting a meeting of all Communist and Left parties of South Asian countries at Kochi. The two-day gathering would take place at Ernakulam from Saturday and representatives of eight Communist and Left parties from South Asian countries besides CPI and CPIM from India would take part in the gathering.

In an official media communication, it is said that CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechuri will inaugurate the meeting on Saturday (September 23) and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will preside over the meeting. The CPIM also said that representatives from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan would take part in the event, even though delegates from Pakistan were yet to receive the VISA. Altogether 30 representatives are expected from south India and a dozen of CPIM representatives including seven polit bureau members will take part in the gathering.

CPIM has also said in a press note that there will be a " Red Volunteer" march and general meeting at Marine Drive on Sunday evening which will also be inaugurated by Yechuri. The main topic of the two-day discussion would be "the interventions of imperialistic forces, and problems faced by the party in the country."

Key CPIM leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, S Ramchandran Pillai and M.A Baby will deliver speeches at the two-day summit.

A senior CPIM leader from Bengal said that by organising the gathering the Communist parties of the country was practically trying to exchange views among them over political and economic situations in the South Asian countries and to consolidate the Communist movements across these countries.