Left parties criticise Indo-US Joint Naval exercise in Jatha

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Sep 6 (UNI) The Left parties-sponsored Chennai-Visakhapatnam Jatha against the Indo-US Joint Naval exercise comprising about 200 cars and two-wheelers arrived here tonight to a warm welcome with slogans against the exercise at Bay of Bengal ranting the air.

Addressing a public meeting here, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat vehemently criticised the US designs in Asia. The Joint Naval exercise would help America to claim that India was assisting her in its anti-people policies in Iran and Iraq among others, he alleged.

He recounted how the Seventh Fleet was despatched by America to Dhaka to intimidate India for supporting the then East Pakistan led late Bangabandu Mujibur Rehman in his crusade against Pakistan for the Independence of Bangladesh and during Indo-Pak war in 1971.

Mr Karat said the Left parties would not support the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government led by Manmohan Singh if it followed a pro-American policy. The Government had to make a choice between the people and alliance with the American imperialism, he added.

The State CPI Secretary K Narayana also criticised India's pro-American policy.

UNI