THE All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) had organised a protest demonstration against the US on June 25, coinciding with the visit of Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State to India. The protest was against the US imposition of sanctions against India, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and other countries and its wars of aggression. The protest rally started from Mandi House and culminated at the American Cultural Centre. Activists, workers, women, students, theatre personalities, writers, intellectuals and people from various other fields participated in the rally expressing their opposition to the US policies and the government of India’s subservience to US.

The rally culminated in a public meeting at the American Cultural Centre. Nilotpal Basu, presidium member of the AIPSO in his address brought to the notice of the people the dangers of US imperialism and its expansionist policies. He criticised the BJP government’s subservience to the US, which is quite contrary to its stated policy of ‘nation first’. BJP’s nationalism is only for posturing and is not at all concerned with the interests of the people of our country, as it is heeding to the pressures of the US and is changing its economic and defence policies to suit the interests of the US, he stated. Basu also criticised the various defence deals signed by the BJP government and in the process sacrificed the strategic interests of our country. He also criticised the government’s decision to stop oil purchases from Iran and Venezuela acting at the behest of the US. All these policies are detrimental to the interests of India and world peace, he concluded.

D Raja, another member of the presidium of the AIPSO and also member of parliament stated that the people of India are against the policies of the BJP government and its subservience to the US. He stated that the US has imposed sanctions on countries like Cuba, Venezuela and Iran, which are not bowing to the dictates of the US. The sanctions imposed on these countries had led to the loss of lives of millions of people, including children. The US is trying to control the entire world resources and markets by imposing its hegemony. The BJP government is talking a lot about nationalism, but in reality is succumbing to the pressures of the US and sacrificing the people of India in the process. He urged the people to unite in the struggle against US hegemony and express their protest against the ongoing visit of US Secretary of State, Pompeo.

Sonya Gupta, one of the general secretaries of the AIPSO spoke against the US policies, particularly on Cuba and Venezuela. She highlighted the intervention of US in the internal affairs of the countries against the sovereign rights of the people of those countries. She brought to notice the decision of the Trump administration to implement the Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which will further strengthen the economic blockade against Cuba, an act which is denounced by all the countries, except two, in the UN. She also explained the resistance offered by the people of Venezuela in their struggle against US intervention and popping up the opposition forces by arming them to topple the democratically elected government. She said these policies expose the real face of US imperialism and people of India should be aware of these dangers. It is time for the people of India to live up to the legacy of anti-colonial freedom struggle and stand in solidarity with all the people who are fighting against US imperialist domination.

Pran Sharma, secretary of All India Anti-imperialist Forum also spoke on this occasion and stressed upon the need for uniting all sections of people who are against the US interventionist policies and for protection of the rights of working people.

The marchers of the rally shouted slogans against US policies enthusiastically throughout the march and carried colourful placards depicting the atrocities committed by the US. They carried the message of peace and expressed their solidarity with all the people of the world, who are fighting for the protection of their rights and against the US hegemony – be in Iran, Palestine, Cuba or Venezuela. The protest concluded with the resolve to take this message to the people of the country and strengthen the forces of resistance.