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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

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U.S. has grown used to grabbing the best: Chavez

VIVA KOLKATA, VIVA INDIA: The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, at a civic reception organised in honour of Mr. Chavez in Kolkata on Saturday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA, MARCH 5. India's oil requirement and its growing dependence on exports dominated the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez's one hour-address at the colourful civic reception held on his maiden visit to West Bengal.

On a two day-visit to Kolkata, Mr. Chavez was driven from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport to the Rabindra Sarobar stadium, a distance of nearly 20 km. He arrived at least two hours behind schedule as his convoy was stopped at different points to enable him to wave at thousands of cheering onlookers. The Latin American leader is adored in this communist-ruled State.

Oil experts coming

Venezuelan oil experts would shortly visit different parts of India — notably Rajasthan, believed to be rich in hydrocarbon deposits — to help carry out larger and more sophisticated exploration programmes which, if successful, would enable the country to cut down on its crude imports, Mr. Chavez said.

"For 100 years, we [Venezuela] have been supplying oil to the United States," he said. "They [the U.S.] have grown used to grabbing the best from the rest of the world. This must stop. We have taken a conscious decision to now help India and China by providing them with supplies of oil."

An estimated 20,000 people packed the stadium. Giant screens were placed at different points for the crowds outside, who broke into applause as Mr. Chavez's speech in Spanish was translated into Bengali by an interpreter.

Seated on the dais were the Governor, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Assembly Speaker, Hasim Abdul Halim, and the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Among the audience were the who's who of India's communist movement — Jyoti Basu, Prakash Karat, Anil Biswas, Biman Bose, Benoy Konar, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and film-maker Mrinal Sen.

India and Venezuela would intensify cooperation in the energy sector and experts would visit the two countries on a regular basis, Mr. Chavez said. "We have signed six agreements in different fields of the economy during my current visit."

Colourful reception

The carefully-scripted reception was high on colour. The stretch between the airport and the stadium was dotted with cut-outs of the Venezuelan leader, welcome arches and buntings — all in red. When the convoy entered the road that led to the stadium, Mr. Chavez was saluted by hundreds of functionaries of the Student Federation of India, clad in red shirts with the face of Che Guevara emblazoned on them. "Viva Chavez, Viva Venezuela," the crowds cried.

Mr. Chavez, clad in a red shirt and black trousers, was visibly moved. He bowed to the audience and also tapped a foot to the Calcutta Youth Choir's rendition of "We shall overcome." "I love you all," he said in Bengali and embraced Mr. Bhattacharjee. He showered encomiums on Bengal's communist Government and underscored what he described as the need to study the course of poverty alleviation being followed by them. "In many ways, Bengal is showing us the way. In Venezuela, poverty is a serious issue and we are trying to formulate ways to address it effectively." He also underscored Kolkata's importance as a centre of anti-imperialism.

Mr. Bhattacharjee recounted the performance of the Chavez Government in the crucial area of land reforms and the distribution of land among the landless, its commitment to the eradication of illiteracy and to healthcare.

Also, Venezuela's help in fulfilling the needs of Fidel Castro's Cuba — another inspiration for Bengal's communists — especially in the area of energy and healthcare was remarkable, he said.

The Venezuelan President will visit a few panchayats near Kolkata tomorrow for a firsthand impression of Bengal's drive against poverty.

UNI reports:

Mr. Chavez urged Asia, Africa and Latin America to unite and emerge as the strongest force on earth. "The 19th and 20th century belonged to Europe and America but this century belongs to Asia, Africa and Latin America. If we can unite we can be the strongest power in the world both economically and other ways."

"A dream come true"

"I extend my hand of friendship to India. I want to extend my bond of friendship to China and Russia also." He said he had come to befriend the people of West Bengal and Kolkata. "Coming to Kolkata is a dream come true for me."

"Viva Kolkata, Viva India," he said and added, "Earlier, I got the taste of India; now I know the taste of West Bengal and Kolkata."

"We used to supply oil to America and Europe. Now our attention would be on Asia and Africa, and particularly India, which is emerging as a major power in Asia. We want to help India in terms of selling crude oil and share our expertise with you."

Hailing 27 years of Communist rule in West Bengal, he recalled the great struggle of Venezuela against the imperialist forces besides the movement to establish socialism in his country.

Mr. Bhattacharjee recalled the struggle of Mr. Chavez and how he survived a coup and was successful in foiling the attempts of the U.S. and the CIA to overthrow him.

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