Anti-War Rallies Held In Bengal

B Prasant

 BIG rallies, demonstrations, and marches were held in Kolkata on February 15 to condemn the war designs of the United States and its cohorts on Iraq.  Organised under the aegis of the various district units of the Left Front, the programmes were attended by people from virtually every walk of life with the workers, peasants, students, and youth making their militant presence felt.  Women attended the programmes in large numbers.

Addressing the central rally held in front of the information centre of the US at Chowringhee, state secretary of the CPI (M), Anil Biswas said the US attempt to wage a destructive war on Iraq was being condemned all over the world, especially in the US itself. 

The increasing size and militancy of the anti-war rallies held across the globe, declared Biswas, was a sure sign that the US and its allies stood condemned in the eyes of the people of the world.  Biswas was critical of the ambivalent attitude of the BJP-led union government in India towards the US threats on Iraq.  The state Left Front leadership addressed the rally, which was preceded by a march along the city streets. Similar rallies and marches were held across the state on the evening of February 15.

BHUBANESWAR TOO JOINS IN

The capital city of Orissa witnessed a colourful rally on February 18 against the proposed US attack on Iraq with participation by a wide section of people  - politicians, intellectuals, women, employees, workers, youth and students. The procession started from Master Canteen Square and culminated in a public meeting at Rajmahal Square. The meeting lasted for about three hours under the presidentship of veteran women leader Santi Das.

Janardan Pati, secretary of CPI(M) Orissa state committee while moving the main resolution said that the real purpose of USA’s imminent attack on Iraq is to control the vast oil fields of that country so as to establish its hegemony throughout the world. Moreover the USA is conspiring to attack Iraq bypassing the UN Security Council and the world opinion. He called upon people to organise more and more anti-war rallies to create pressure on Bush administration to stop its naked war drive.

Among others who spoke in the rally supporting the resolution included Sivaji Patnaik, ex-MP, Dutikrushna Panda, Sarat Mansingh state secretary, Forward Block, Amiya Pandav, JD(Secular), Dusmant Das, Co-ordination Commitee, Soure Bandhu Kar, AITUC, Suresh Panigrahi, CPI(M), Kulamani Jena, Lecturer Asis Kanango, CPI, Judhister Behera, DYFI, Ramani Routray, AIYF and Arun Jena, social activist. The meeting decided to intensify the campaign against war throughout the state in the coming days.

This programme was organised under the banner of “Campaign Against War”, Orissa which comprises a cross section of people including political parties, intellectuals, employees, workers, youth, women, students, social activists etc.

NAGPUR HOSTS “ARTISTS AGAINST WAR”

ON February 12, 2003 at the crowded variety square of Nagpur scores of artists came together under the platform of “Artists Against War” and presented songs, poems, flower arrangements etc giving vent to their strong opposition against the imminent US aggression against Iraq. This programme was organised by Gajar, Nagpur.

The programme, held in a situation of a looming threat of war on Iraq, drew numerous artists of Nagpur. They showed that they were not lagging behind when a large scale movement is going on in other parts of world against war. Tanushri Tamaskar, a noted child artist who bagged first prize in a singing competition organised by Gajar this year, presented “Aye Mere Vatan ke Logo”at the start of the programme. A noted Ghazal singer Prakash Kalashi presented “Khatre Mein Hai Vatan - Sarfaroshi ki Tammanna Dil Mein”.  Noted poet Tanaha Nagpuri attracted every one with his poems.

Classical singers Sonal Agnihotri and Sanjay Mire presented classical songs. Yogendra Kumar Singh read his poem “Hiroshima Phir Nahin”. A famous orchestra singer Manda Bhamkar presented a famous poem of a Marathi poetess Daya Pawar “Bai Mee Dharan Bhandhate”. Swaranjali Cassettes producer Gunwant Jadhav presented a Gazhal “Khatre mein Vatan”. Arti and Abhishek Saxena through their flower  decoration depicted a message “Say No to War”.

Noted economist of Nagpur city Dr Shrinivas Khandewale in his short address appealed to the people to oppose this imperialist onslaught on Iraq.  “After Afghanistan it is Iraq today, and tomorrow it could be India. That’s why Indian people should firmly oppose American imperialist hegemony”, said Dr Shrinivas.

Gajar Nagpur also presented a song “Yuddha Nako Amha “ (We Do Not Want War) Vilas Jambhulkar and Sanjay Randive convened the proceedings of this programme. The local media gave large coverage to this progamme. (INN)