Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 30 (IANS) Over 30 lakh Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists in Kerala will form a 500 km human chain from here to Kasargode on Oct 2 to protest the free trade agreement signed between New Delhi and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Party general secretary Prakash Karat, state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will form the last link in the human chain in front of the official residence of Kerala Governor R.S. Gavai.

According to Central Committee member of the party E.P. Jayarajan, the response had been tremendous.

“We have asked our people to be ready and line up on the national highway around 4 p.m.. At 4.45 p.m. shouting against anti-centre policies would begin and at 5 p.m. the pledge against the agreement would be taken,” Jayarajan told IANS.

He added the figure could go well beyond the 40 lakh mark.

The decision to form the human chain was taken Aug 18 at the state committee of the party.

The CPI-M’s contention is that the agreement will adversely affect the agrarian and allied sectors in Kerala.

“Two lakh of our followers would be there in the human chain in the capital district,” said CPI-M Thiruvananthapuram district secretary Kaddakampally Surendran.

The Congress leadership has said it was strange that only the CPI-M was taking part in the event.

“If they are so convinced, why are they not including their allies in the Left Front in the human chain. This is being organised to save their face from the embarrassment in the SNC Lavalin corruption case where their party secretary is an accused,” said Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy.

The union commerce ministry has released advertisements in almost all newspapers asking people of the state not to be misled by wrong campaigns against the agreement.