Thousands rallied on June 13 in at least nine cities across India and Pakistan to protest against the war drive and the threat of nuclear devastation on the subcontinent.

“How can arms traders be peace-brokers?” was a question raised by Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (Liberation) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya at a rally in Delhi in which hundreds of people participated. “It is ironic that the Bush and Blair administrations, two of the biggest suppliers of weapons to the region, are being lauded as brokers of peace”, he pointed out.

Similar protests were also held in Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Vijaywada, Chennai and several other Indian centres.

In Pakistan, more than 1000 people took part in the Lahore protest which was a very spirited event observed by a big number of police.

Farooq Tariq, general secretary of Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), one of the main initiating organisations, said the demonstrations were the first coordinated effort by many left parties and democratic organisations on both sides of the India-Pakistan border.

LPP's Moazzam Bhatti reported that the Lahore action demanded an immediate withdrawal of all military forces from the India-Pakistan border, a de-escalation of military tension and the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir. Speakers emphasised the need for an immediate withdrawal of all US and other imperialist forces from the region.

“We want bread, not bombs”, “No to nuclear madness” and “Imperialists out of the region” were some of the most popular chants in the Lahore march. Bhatti said those who took part were mainly left-wing activists, trade unionists, members of women's groups and people from working-class communities.

The Lahore demonstration was addressed by Abid Hasan Minto, president of the National Workers Party, the LPP's Farooq Tariq, Dr Mubashar Hasan, president of the Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Amir from the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, and Taj Mohammed Langah of the Seraiki National Party.

On the Indian side of the border, protesters called for the demobilisation of troops, the complete restoration of all diplomatic ties and dialogue with Pakistan. Bhattacharya condemned the US-British intervention in the subcontinent, saying it is a dangerous development which must be rejected.

Bhattacharya also pointed out the urgency of staging free and fair elections in Kashmir, halting Indian state repression there and granting a general amnesty to all political activists in India's jails. He hailed the initiatives taken by the anti-war movement in Britain, Canada and the US.

The leaders of many left and democratic organisations spoke at the Delhi protest, including CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative's PK Murthy, Socialist Unity Centre of India's Pratap Samal and CPI(ML)-Red Flag's Uma Kant. Former chief justice of Delhi High Court, Rajinder Sachchar, also spoke at the action.

From Green Left Weekly, June 19, 2002.
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