People's Democracy

Kolkata March Condemns US Barbarism In Iraq

A view of the massive march held in Kolkata by the Left Front against US barbarism

B Prasant

A VAST and disciplined march held under the aegis of the Bengal Left Front traversed the streets of Kolkata in strident condemnation of US barbarism in Iraq and the mockery of justice by the US imperialists in handing out a death sentence on the ousted president of Iraq Saddam Hussein. More than one-and-a-half lakh of men and women, young and old populated the march. Red flags and colourful banners dominated the march.

The march was against imperialist machinations the world over. The march was held in the wake of intense campaign movement by the Bengal Left Front’s district units between November 8 and 14. The marchers covered a distance of ten kilometres between Park Circus and Deshbandhu Park in the north of the city. The procession went via CIT Road, Moulali crossing, AJC Bose road, the Sealdah fly-over, APC Road, and Dinendra Street.

The procession carried several tableaux where different sets of effigies of the Bush-Blair duo were sentenced to death and hanged amidst great cheering. Full-throated anti-imperialist slogans emanated from the marchers. Walking shoulder-to-shoulder were workers, kisans, students-youth, teachers, intellectuals, artistes, and political leaders. All the communities were well represented.

The men and women from the IPTA units sang anti-imperialist and anti-war songs. The marchers were led by the Bengal Left Front leadership including the Left Front chairman Biman Basu. The march set off at 1:40 in the afternoon. The front of the procession reached its destination at around 3:25.

Before the processions started off, Biman Basu addressed the marchers. The CPI(M) leader sketched in the horrific profile of US imperialism and said that the US was engaged in interfering with the internal affairs of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The latest example has been US interference in Bangladesh, which is in turmoil now. Conspiracy and machination under aegis of the US was also afoot in India.

Biman Basu said that US imperialism systematically destroyed democracy in Iraq. The latest example is the mockery of justice where the ousted president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death. Mass of the people across the globe has started to fulminate against US imperialism. A great many Latin American countries have frustrated all US designs and have elected the Left to office. Biman Basu exhorted upon the UPA government not to buckle under US pressure and to forge an independent foreign policy. The rally was also addressed by leaders of LF constituent parties.

The corporate media had spread canards about the procession choking up the Kolkata traffic and causing inconvenience to the people. In fact, there was no appreciable slowing down of the traffic streams as the marchers allowed vehicular traffic to overtake them as they progressed in a most disciplined way.