Kerala - Thrissur   

Call for hartal on March 2

Staff Reporter

CPI(ML) plans protest against U.S. President's India visit

THRISSUR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), a joint action council of pro-Left activist groups and human rights organisations have called for a hartal on March 2 in protest against the proposed visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to India.

While the CPI(ML) has called for a national hartal, the joint action council has given the call for a State hartal.

In a statement here on Monday, CPI(ML) central secretary K.N. Ramachandran alleged that the U.S. regime was aggressively pursuing an imperialist agenda and the attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan were part of the design. The Bush administration has now turned its gun on Iran, Venezuela and Syria, but protests are mounting across the world against the U.S. aggression. He alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre had kept the door of the country open to imperialist powers and the hartal was to pressure the Indian Government to retract from its pro-U.S. policies.

Various campaigns

Addressing a press conference, joint action council leaders T.K. Vasu, Vilayodi Sivankutty, Sreedharan Therambil and Poonam Rahim said the Kerala hartal was to tell the world that the people of the State were not with the moves of the UPA Government.

Many other organisations have launched different forms of campaigns against Mr. Bush's visit. The Sunni Students Federation has held a rally in the city to protest against the visit. A host of other organisations, including the All India Peace Solidarity Committee, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, COSTFORD, Jananeethi, Chetana Media Institute, SENS, Streevedi, Yuvakala Sahithi, Janasamskara, Solidarity Youth Movement and the All India Youth Federation have formed a `Bush Virudha Samithi.'

A symbolic protest with lighting of candles was held here on Monday evening as part of the protests. The Gandhi Yuvamandalam, All India Bank Employees Association, Kerala Electricity Workers' Federation and the Students Islamic Organisation have also joined the Samithi. A poets' meet is being organised by the Samithi on Tuesday as part of the protests.

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