People's Democracy

"Warmonger Bush: Back Off Iraq"

Campaign Begins With Impressive Rally In New Delhi

"Warmonger Bush: Back Off Iraq" - this was the resounding message from an impressive rally in the nation's capital, New Delhi, on November 14, organised by the 'Committee Against War On Iraq'. With this rally, a nationwide campaign against US imperialism's “War on the World” has been launched. The rally also sent a warning to Vajpayee government to raise its voice against Bush's war drive.

Thousands gathered on this sunny day afternoon at Mandi House with placards, banners and flags. Among them were workers, students, youth, women, teachers, writers, intellectuals and so on.  Some were chanting slogans, some were singing songs, yet others were staging plays - all denouncing US President Bush's war mongering. The assembly then began its march towards Parliament Street. In the lead were senior leaders of CPI (M)  - Harkishen Singh Surjeet, Prakash Karat; CPI - A B Bardhan, D Raja; JD-S - former prime minister H D Deve Gowda; RSP - Manoj Bhattacharya; CPI (ML) -  Dipankar Bhattacharya;  Forward Bloc – Devarajan; and others. Despite poor health, former prime minister, V P Singh too joined the march for a brief period at Mandi House.

"Ameriki Goondagardi Nahi Chalegi", "Bomb Nahi, Roti Chahiye - Yudh Nahi, Shanti Chahiye", "Bush-Blair, Murderous Pair" were some of the slogans chanted. The procession culminated into a public meeting at Jantar Mantar.

CPI(M) general secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet, presided over the public meeting. In his address he declared that this rally is only the beginning of a nationwide campaign against US imperialist war drive and that similar rallies would be held across the country. Expressing happiness at the expression of strong anti-war protests in many parts of the world by millions of people, Surjeet called upon the people of India to join this campaign in a big way. He termed the silence of the Vajpayee government on this issue as "shameful" and said it will be raised in the coming winter session of Parliament.

The fall of Soviet Union had emboldened the US to launch attacks on any nation. "Today it is Iraq, tomorrow it may be India or any other country which may have to face the US attack. Unless Bush is taught a lesson this time, it will be difficult to stop these attacks", said Surjeet.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat, said that the US aim is to utilise the United Nations resolution for launching a war against Iraq. All the other countries including France, Russia and China in the Security Council want a peaceful solution to the problem. He felt that the coming two- month period is a dangerous one as US will try every trick to pressurise the UN into sanctioning its war on Iraq. The Committee Against War on Iraq will intensify its campaign in the coming two months through out the nation, said Prakash Karat.

Former prime minister and Janata Dal(S) president, H D Deve Gowda, called upon all peace loving countries to forge a global alliance against the imperialist designs of US. Complimenting those countries  which did not cooperate with the US in the UN Security Council, Deve Gowda called upon Indian government to take a firm stand against US war drive, not caring for financial implications. Now that Iraq has agreed to abide by the UN resolution, all sanctions against it must be immediately lifted, demanded Deve Gowda. "The double standards of the US which talks of human rights and indulges in mass killings of children with its sanctions programme must be exposed", he said.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said that the US has already made up its mind to unilaterally launch an attack on Iraq and that it is now only looking for an excuse. He felt that the real intention behind US  moves was the appropriation of Iraqi oil for which it needs a puppet regime in Baghdad.

Among others who spoke included CPI-ML general secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, RSP leader Manoj Bhattacharya and Forward Block leader Devarajan.