Left parties' protest march against Barack Obama' s visit

NEW DELHI: A day before the US president Barack Obama arrives here, seven Left parties today held a protest march against inviting him as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and "weakening" of India's civil nuclear liability law to favour American " imperialism".

Activists and supporters of CPI, CPI(M), AIFB, RSP, CPI-ML, SUCI and Communist Gadar Party of India held the rally from Mandi House to Parliament against US's agenda to "pressurize" and change India's economic and security policies.

"President Obama is coming with an agenda to pressurise and change India's economic policies and also its security and strategic policies. We should not succumb to that pressure. Unfortunately, the Narendra Modi government is showing indications of that," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said.

He alleged that Modi government, by inviting Obama to India, is trying to tilt the Indian economic policy in favour of "American imperialism" and said this is "an insult" of the people and working class of India.

CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said Modi government is trying to "weaken India's civil nuclear liability law for American imperialism for nuclear energy in India".

Condemning Modi government's invitation to Obama to be the chief guest on the Republic Day, he alleged "Obama represents that American imperialism which has spread the hatred and human genocide in various countries and regions" and added that the US was spreading the arms race in the world.

The other leaders, who spoke on the occasion, said American policies on India's land and in industry cannot be allowed.

"The Modi government, by changing the land acquisition Act, environment security and labour laws, is working against the interest of Indian farmers, labour and general people and selling to the American multinational companies."

The march was led by CPI National Secretary D Raja, Dhirendra Sharma, Secretary, Dinesh Varshney, assistant secretary and others.