Massive protests against visit

TENS OF thousands of activists led by the Left parties, who provide crucial support to the UPA government from outside, today staged protests across the country to denounce the visit of US President George Bush whom they dubbed a ?war criminal?.

TENS OF thousands of activists led by the Left parties, who provide crucial support to the UPA government from outside, today staged protests across the country to denounce the visit of US President George Bush whom they dubbed a ‘war criminal’.

HT Image

The protests were by and large peaceful barring one incident in Jammu and Kashmir when several people were injured in a clash between police and Shia demonstrators.

Left leaders supported by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, whose Samajwadi Party also supports the government from outside, attacked the government on various policies and issued implied threats saying the coalition would ‘face consequences’ if it ignored the Left suggestions.

The main demonstration was in the capital where activists of the CPI (M), CPI, CPI (ML), RSP, Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (Secular) and some Muslim groups took out a procession to Parliament chanting ‘Bush Go Home’ and carrying banners and placards with slogans like ‘Bush War Criminal’, ‘Killer Bush Go Back’.