CPI-M not to boycott Obama speech
October 30th, 2010 - 4:58 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday said it will not boycott US President Barack Obama’s address to MPs Nov 8 as he is the first American black president.
“We boycott in a particular context,” CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat told IANS, referring to the party’s views on former US president George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. “We don’t see any necessity (to boycott Obama).”
Asked what makes Obama different, the Rajya Sabha MP said the difference was that he was the first black president of the US.
Basudeb Acharia, the CPI-M leader in the Lok Sabha, said the party had decided it would not boycott Obama, who visits Mumbai and New Delhi Nov 6-9.
He will address a joint meeting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members Nov 8, a day before he leaves for Indonesia.
But he said the Left parties would hold a massive protest here and other parts of India Nov 8 against the “imperialist policies” of the US.
The Left parties Friday said their protest Nov 8 would demand, among other things, justice for victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy for which US multinational Union Carbide was blamed.
- Forward Bloc questions Left's plan to attend Obama speech (Lead) - Oct 30, 2010
- Anti-US protest plan is on: Left leaders - Nov 07, 2010
- Obama speech impresses MPs, Left unimpressed (Roundup) - Nov 08, 2010
- Obama's speech ambiguous: CPI-M - Nov 08, 2010
- Lok Sabha adopts motion of thanks to president's address - Mar 19, 2012
- Change in Left's 'olden' perception towards Obama? - Oct 28, 2010
- We're committed to democracy despite odds, say India's leaders (Afternoon Lead) - May 13, 2012
- Obama speech disappointing, ambiguous, says Left (Lead) - Nov 08, 2010
- Achuthanandan faces flak for remarks on ex-CPI-M woman leader - Mar 11, 2012
- Want strong but accountable Lokpal: CPI-M - Dec 27, 2011
- Trivedi's resignation under PM's consideration: Pranab - Mar 19, 2012
- Left parties protest 'imperialistic' US foreign policy - Nov 08, 2010
- Forward Bloc student wing protests Obama visit - Nov 06, 2010
- Parliament, politicians condemn Delhi terror attack (Roundup) - Sep 07, 2011
- OK if Somnath campaigns for CPI-M, says Yechury - Apr 15, 2011
Tags: barack obama, bhopal gas tragedy, bill clinton, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, CPI, first black president, george w bush, imperialist, left parties, Lok Sabha, massive protest, mumbai, New Delhi, oct 30, politburo member, president george w bush, rajya sabha, union carbide, us president george