George W. Bush arrived in India on late 1st evening, but much preceded his visit. For example the media hype over the 'historic visit' and all at pains to prepare the ground for a safe and successful state visit. On the other hand, left parties, Muslim organizations and various people's fronts were gathering forces to protest against the visit.
Protests against Bush were not only in these two cities but all over the country from Lucknow to Chennai, to Kolkata. It is clear that the Indian govt's shift towards the US in economic and foreign policy is not acceptable to the Indian people
Mumbai
The Forum against War and Terrorism (FAWT), an umbrella organization representing people's groups, left and secular parties along with various Muslim groups held a massive rally of over a 200,000 people at Azad Maidan on the 2nd March 2006. This was probably the biggest crowd since the textile mills strike of the 70s. Protesters were furiously waving flags and advertising their hatred for the US President. People came out on the streets because Bush symbolizes the agenda of American imperialism for global hegemony. The issues highlighted during the rally and speeches made were around the nuclear agenda, Iran-Pakistan- India oil pipeline, asking government to rethink its policies on the alignment with the US and try to think of a major alternative to the power centre of the US and Europe. The rally also condemned the cartoons.
Delhi
In Delhi, there were around 50,000 strong anti-Bush marchers at the Ram Lila maidan on March 2. This anti-Bush rally organised by the Left and secular parties in New Delhi was probably one of the largest in recent times against any foreign head and his policies.
A riot of colour, interspersed with posters and buntings with tableau and cartoons, some atop buses and trucks all vent their anger against Bush and the UPA government's servile support to Bush. It was a rare rally where the blue of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the dingy khaki of the Delhi police force were overwhelmed by the red and green of the CPI (M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and Samajwadi Party, JD (S) and Indian Justice Party. Thousands of banners, posters and buntings fluttered gaily. It was indeed spring in bloom.
Men, women with babies on waist, students, academics, political workers, the ordinary man on the street were all rubbing shoulders with thousands of toiling workers from different states who congregated at Ramlila ground since the morning. There was significant participation from Punjab. Many people from remote UP villages had come with headgear, drums, deer horns, pipes etc. Some wore colourful folk dresses while others sported black balloons with message "Go Back Bush", which were later released in the air by top leaders.
