Black flags, balloons to greet Clinton in Agra

Black flags, balloons to greet Clinton in Agra
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

AGRA, MARCH 18: Black flags and balloons in a decked up city will greet US President Bill Clinton when he comes here on March 22 for two hours to visit the Taj Mahal and address an environmental meet.

Several organisations in this erstwhile Mughal capital have joined forces to protest against what they call "USA's imperialistic attitude" towards India as well as the "humiliating treatment being meted out to local residents in the name of providing security to Clinton."

The police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), which have been deployed in strength, "are unnecessarily harassing the citizens and have imposed curfew-like conditions at the behest of US security officials", they allege.

"An atmosphere of terror prevails in Agra today. People residing along the route have been prohibited from even going to the terrace of their houses. They have been told to shut their doors and windows when the President passes through," alleged Ram Dhiraj, North India Convenor of Azadi Bachao Andolan (ABA), a key organiser of the protests.

Conceding that staging of protests would be difficult in the backdrop of unprecedented security measures in the city, Dhiraj said ABA activists would float black balloons and wave black flags to Clinton and his entourage "wherever possible."

Clinton, along with daughter Chelsea, is scheduled to arrive here on March 22 afternoon at Kheria airport, address an environmental conference at Taj Khema hotel and thereafter visit the magnificent monument of love. Senior police officials, when contacted, said no protests would be allowed anywhere near the places President Clinton is scheduled to visit.

"The atmosphere in Agra is very suffocating and extremely humiliating for the Indian people. It is indeed shameful that the administration is bending backwards, event to the extent of harassing its own people, to please a westerner," said noted social activist and Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh.

While Agnivesh himself would be sitting on fast in Delhi during Clinton's visit, activists of his `Bandhua Mukti Morcha' and Arya Samaj would be burning the US President's effigies in Agra from Sunday itself.

Other groups joining the proposed protests in the city of Taj include the National Alliance of People's Movements and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party. Several Left organisations including the city units of CPI, CPI (M) and other groups have also planned a series of protests starting with effigy burning on the occasion of `Holi ka dahan' on Sunday.

Hoteliers, travel agents, guides and shopkeepers, however, do not mind the "inconvenience" if his visit would "attract more American tourists to the city." Meanwhile, the entire route Clinton would pass on his way to Taj Mahal from Kheria airport has been decked up.

Roads have been repaired, pavements beautified, branches of trees pruned, tree trunks painted ochre and white and lampposts coloured black and silver to accord a `Red Carpet' welcome to Clinton.