BUSH NOT WELCOME: Protesters setting on fire an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Gulbarga on Thursday.

GULBARGA: Protests against the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to India continued in Gulbarga on Thursday with the leaders and members of Left parties and like-minded organisations, including Samajwadi Party, All India Progressive Janata Dal, Dalit Sangarsha Samiti, Dalit Sena, Republican Party of India, and Dalit Panthers, staging a protest.

The protesters led by Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretariat member Maruti Manpade, MLA B.R. Patil, Communist Party of India district unit secretary Shoukat Ali Alur and others came in a procession to the Deputy Commissioner's office and staged a rasta roko for over 30 minutes before burning an effigy of the U.S. President.

Mr. Manpade, Mr. Patil and others, who addressed the protesters, said Mr. Bush, who bullies poor countries, is trying to enslave India. They said the U.S.-led allied forces, which invaded Iraq and ruined it with an eye on the oil resources of that country, are now training their guns on Iran.

They said the U.S., which has a stockpile of nuclear and chemical weapons, has no moral right to impose conditions on other countries on their nuclear arsenal.

Protest in Bidar

Bidar Staff Correspondent reports:

Members of several organisations staged a protest in Bidar on Thursday against Mr. Bush's visit to India.

Members of the Left parties, Dalit Sangarsha Samiti, All India Progressive Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party shouted slogans asking Mr. Bush to go back.

The protesters staged a road blockade at Ambedkar Circle and burnt an effigy of Mr. Bush.

Baburao Honna, general secretary of the Communist Party of India district unit, accused the Union Government of changing its stand on crucial issues at the behest of the U.S. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in the forefront of welcoming the U.S. President, he said.

He alleged that Dr. Singh is not interested in the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project as the U.S. is opposed to it.

Bandh

Raichur Correspondent reports:

A total and peaceful bandh was observed in Raichur on Thursday in response to a call given by Left parties and progressive organisations in protest against the visit of Mr. Bush to India.

Protesters staged a demonstration and took out separate processions in the city. They staged a dharna at Ambedkar Circle and burnt an effigy of Mr. Bush.

Most business establishments, including shops, hotels, cinema halls and petrol bunks, remained closed. Banks reported poor transactions on account of closure of business establishments.

Schools and colleges also remained closed.

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