Nationwide Protest Against Clinton's Visit

In West Bengal, Party adopted a week-long programme beginning on 15 March to oppose Clinton's visit to India. Under this programme, Clinton's effigy was burnt at block headquarters in almost all districts of the state. On 19 March RYA observed Holikadahan by burning Clinton's effigy. On 21 March a 500 strong demonstration was brought out in Calcutta, led by Comrades Kartik Pal, D. Buxi, Sankar Mitra, Arindam Sen, Partha Ghosh and Meena Paul. Police resorted to brutal lathicharge and arrested 18 demonstrators. The same day demonstrations were held at Krishnanagar, Raiganj, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Bardhaman and other places. The next day, people protested against the police lathicharge and arrest throughout the state. On 23 March, communist revolutionaries jointly protested the lathicharge in which 3000 people participated.

The Guwahati unit of CPI(ML) burnt the effigy of Bill Clinton at Judges Field, Guwahati on 18 March in protest against his visit to India.

At Agartala, SUCI, PDF and CPI(ML) jointly burnt the effigy of Clinton on 22 March. Party comrades also burnt Clinton's effigy at Udaipur on 20 March.

In Buhvaneshwar, a procession was taken out by CPI(ML) on 23 March which culminated in a mass meeting, addressed by Com. Khitish Biswal and other leaders.

Clinton and Vajpayee's effigies were burnt in Arrah and Samastipur in Bihar on 22 March. On 23 March RYA, AISA and AIPWA organised a protest march.

CPI(ML) and AICCTU organised a demonstration against Clinton's visit in Chennai on 22 March. The same day Clinton's effigy was burnt in Pudukottai. On 23 March party activists in Nellai were arrested while burning Clinton's effigy, while in Salem Clinton's effigy was burnt, in Dindigul and Coimbatore black flag demonstrations were taken out, and in Chennai RYA and AICCTU comrades were arrested while burning Clinton's effigy.

In Hyderabad, 6000 people marched under the alliance of 9 Left parties to oppose Clinton's visit and courted arrest. Around 500 of our comrades got arrested at stations in Kakinada while boarding the train to Hyderabad. Earlier, district level joint conventions were held on 15 March everywhere in Andhra, our Party participating in Krishna, Visakhapatanam and East Godavari and Chittur.

Observing Martyrs' Day on 23 March, Bhagat Singh's martyrdom day, a massive demonstration was organised by CPI(ML) at Pilibhit in UP. Participated by more than 1,000 people, it was addressed by Com. Krishna Adhikari, member of Party CC, it adopted a 6-point resolution. A procession was organised in Kheri district on 25 March. In many districts of U.P. Clinton's effigy was burnt.

Clinton's effigy was burnt at several places in Uttarakhand region of U.P. on 22 March. On 23, a procession cum mass meeting was held at Nainital. At Rudrapur, CPI and our Party held a joint demonstration.

At Jaipur, CPI, CPI(M), MCPI and CPI(ML) jointly organised burning of Clinton's effigy on 23 March.

In Delhi, week-long campaign was organised from 13-20 March. At Okhla, effigy of Clinton was burnt on 19 March. On 22 March, our MP Com. Jayanta Rongpi stayed out of the joint session of Parliament addressed by Clinton. In the march to Parliament organised that day by CPI(ML), Abani Roy, RSP Member of Rajya Sabha also participated. Led by Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya, PB member Com. B. Sivaraman, CC members Com. Kumudini Pati, Jayanta Rongpi and others, more than 200 demonstrators marched from Mandi House to Parliament Street and broke the police barricade following which police lathicharged and arrested the demonstrators. Party leaders addressed the meeting held at Parliament Street Police Station.