The Hindu : Front Page : Left protest rally leaves for Visakhapatnam

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Thursday, Sep 06, 2007
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Left protest rally leaves for Visakhapatnam

Special Correspondent

Karat tells cadres to “take a pledge to fight imperialist forces”

— Photo: K. Pichumani

MOBILISING PUBLIC OPINION: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat (left), and CPI national secretary D. Raja at the start of a protest rally against the joint naval exercises, in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The southern leg of the vehicular campaign taken out by Left parties in protest against India’s joint naval exercises with the U.S. set out for Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

VOC portrait garlanded

Leaders including Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat and Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja garlanded the portrait of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram — coinciding with his 136th birth anniversary — near the main gates of the Chennai Harbour.

They resolved to continue the leader’s fight for the values of freedom and sovereignty.

Mr. Karat urged the party cadres to “take a pledge to fight imperialist forces” like Chidambaram, who had floated the ‘Swadeshi Shipping Company’ during the British rule.

He said the movement launched by the Left leaders would not allow India to become an ally of the United States.

Several leaders of Left parties are accompanying the contingent of about 300 cars and two-wheelers.

The rally was accorded public receptions at Red Hills and Gummudipoondi before it entered Nellore.

Another rally launched simultaneously by CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan set out from Kolkata and both contingents are scheduled to reach Visakhapatnam on September 8.

The Left campaign will culminate in a public meeting.

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