Forward Bloc protests Obama visit

Immediately after US President Barack Obama arrived at Mumbai today,a small group of Forward Bloc supporters staged a protest rally in front the American Center in Kolkata. Around 150 supporters gathered in the afternoon to protest against the visit of Obama. Incidentally the Left Front had earlier announced that all the Left allies will bring out rallies across the state on November 8.

Though Bloc supporters staged an hour-long demonstration,DYFI and SFI – youth and students wings of the CPM – has planned separate programmes on Monday. While the SFI called for meetings and rallies at educational institutions,DYFI has planned a sit-in-demonstration at the American Center on the same day. The SFI will also take out a rally.

Left Front sources,however,said that in the present political situation in the state,such a political program against “American imperialism” would not help the party in anyway.

“These protests show that the Left is opposed to the Indo-US strategic partnership. We know that in the present political situation such campaign would not help us in gaining the lost ground,” said a senior Left Front leader.

Hafiz Alam Sairani,senior Forward Bloc leader said,apart from the Left Front protests on November 8,the party has asked all its wings to continue protests till November 12.

“We believe that Obama is visiting India for the interest of US imperialism. So we have to protest,” said Sairani.