Protests against the War on Afghanistan mount
-October 12, 2001

Following the beginning of the bombings of Afghanistan by the Anglo-American imperialist forces, there have been protests all over the country against these attacks. Everywhere, Indian people are demanding an end to the war and are denouncing the Vajpayee government's willing collaboration with the Anglo-American imperialists in this unjust war.

On 12th October, hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of New Delhi to the US Information Center. They called for an end to the war and expressed opposition to the US imperialist plans for establishing hegemony over the region. The protestors carried placards and banners declaring "Stop the War against Afghanistan", "Down with US hegemonism", "US imperialism is the biggest terrorist", "US imperialism is the father of terrorism", and other such slogans. They denounced the Vajpayee government's collaboration with US in this unjust war. A contingent of the Communist Ghadar Party of India participated in the demonstration along with the CPI(M), the CPI, the Forward Bloc, the RSP and the "Jang Roko Abhiyan".

On the same day, massive protests took place in Hyderabad and nearly 50 youth were injured in police repression.

Students of Srinagar University protested against the unjust war on Afghanistan, braving the lathis and tear gas of the police. Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir also, many protest actions were organised.

Earlier, on 11th October, activists of the "jang roko abhiyan", a coalition of womens organisations, youth and student organisations, NGO's and intellectuals marched to the Police Headquarters in Delhi. They were protesting the arrest of six students of Delhi University. These students have been charged with sedition, for the "crime" of distributing anti-war leaflets and denouncing the communal-fascist war mongering stand of the Vajpayee government.

A broad coalition of forces opposed to the war and the fascist attacks of the Vajpayee government on the rights of people is being forged. At a meeting held in New Delhi on October 12, representatives of numerous organisations of workers, women, youth, students, teachers, church representatives, NGO's and others got together in an attempt to unite all the anti-war forces on one platform. It was also decided that an all-India movement with a broad character will be developed and links forged with the anti war, anti imperialist movement in South Asia and the world over. There are plans to hold a powerful protest action in the capital on October 30.