Left parties protest Modi's invitation to Obama

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of compromising India's sovereignty by inviting Barack Obama for the Republic Day function, several Left parties Saturday staged a rally here opposing the US president's visit.

The rally was attended by Left Front chairperson and Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Biman Basu, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra and CPI state secretary Manju Kumar Majumdar.

"The decision (to invite Obama) makes it clear that the Modi government has adapted an extreme right-wing policy. They have chosen a path that will compromise our country's sovereignty," Bose said at the rally.

"This government is attempting to make India a US ally and we oppose it," he added.

Bedsides the Left parties, a protest march was also organised by the Saho Nagarik Mancha, a civil society organization.

"Whether it's the UPA or the NDA governments, all have become agents of monopolist capitalism. We strongly criticise the invitation to Obama," said Prasun Bhowmik, poet and convenor of the Mancha.