One of India's main left-wing parties today called for a major demonstration against the US-led strikes on Afghanistan and a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting.
Tomorrow's protest march, organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) or CPI (ML), will take place in New Delhi near the parliament building.
"It is going to be the biggest anti-war demonstration in India so far," said CPI (ML) member Mr Ranjit Abhigyan.
The rally will target Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for extending support to US President Mr George W. Bush and his allies in Afghanistan.
"Instead of raising the country's profile by taking the lead in voicing the Third World's concern over America's Afghan war, the BJP's rulers have shamed the country and harmed our dignity and sovereignty by serving as agents of the Bush administration," a CPI (ML) press release said.
The party also called on the Indian government to resist a new round of liberalisation talks due to start at the five-day WTO meeting starting in the Qatari capital Doha tomorrow.
The CPI (ML) said the US was trying to "bulldoze any opposition to the new round at Doha by linking it with their war on terrorism".
AFP