Left parties protest ‘imperialistic’ US foreign policy

NEW DELHI - On the second day of US President Barack Obama’s Delhi visit, around 700 protesters, including members of Left parties, Monday held a demonstration here against America’s “imperialistic” foreign policy.

The protest at Jantar Mantar in the heart of New Delhi was backed by the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist (SUCI-C), the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Lenninist and student groups of the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

There have been no changes in American policies, only the leadership has changed from from Bush to Obama. But their (America’s) imperialistic attitude has not changed, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

Protesters carrying banners denouncing t he US’s role in Afghanistan and Iraq and demanding justice to Bhopal gas disaster victims, swarmed the Sansad Marg that links the 17th century observatory to Parliament House.

We want a proper compensation for Bhopal (gast tragedy) victims, and in the strongest terms denounce the opening up of Indian agriculture sector to the US companies,” said Mohammad Arif, a CPI-M leader.

“President Obama is a shrewd businessman who’s created a lot of jobs and wealth for Amerian citizens, he said.

America should withdraw forces from Afghanistan and other areas which are under its control. America is encouraging Israel to continue its takeover of Palestinian territories. It is basically a capitalist regime, trying to take over the world, said Pran Sharma, secretary of the SUCI-C.

A banner read “Obama the war monger get out India”. Protesters shouted slogans such as “Barack Obama is responsible for Iraq’s deserted bloody roads”.

They also shouted slogans against foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indian retail and agriculture sectors.

The CPI-M’s student wing Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also joined the protest along with the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).