As India and the US start the join air exercises there is a similar flurry of activities outside the gates of the Indian Air Force station at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. Only difference is the ones outside the gates are Leftist protestors who had been crying hoarse in protest for the last few weeks running up to this event code named Cope India - 05.



Outside, the Commander-in-Chief of the red brigade, Comrade Dipak Sarkar, district secretary of the CPI (M), led a protest march that involves cadres totaling over five army divisions.



The fliers and the protestors were joined by an equally big contingent on Sunday-that of the police. Their aim is to prevent violence and they are not taking chances, putting up barricades. SP AP Nanda, said: ‘’We have learnt through our channels that the protest will be peaceful and the exercise will go on.’



Sarkar earlier pepped up his ‘Red Army’ saying; “Who can tell for sure that the US forces will not take over this airforce base should they find it to their liking? As many as 130 countries in the world have American military bases.”



Thanks : Indian Express