NEW DELHI: CPM has cancelled the We20 program held at Surjit Bhawan, the study centre of the party in Delhi after the police did not give permission. Last day, CPM overrode the ban and held the event. However, the police officials objected by pointing out that there is a court order requiring prior permission from the police to hold the program. Subsequently, the program was cancelled. The Delhi High Court had ordered in March that prior permission from the Delhi Police should be sought for events.

As an alternative to the G20 Summit to be held in India in September, a program called the We20 People's Summit was organized by various non-governmental organizations in collaboration with the CPM. The program started on August 18 at Surjit Bhawan, the study centre of the party in Delhi. Brinda Karat, M P Manoj Jha, activist Teesta Setalvad and others attended the inaugural event. But yesterday, on the second day, the police stopped the program because there was no permission.

The police locked the main gate of Surjit Bhawan and said that no one will be allowed in or out. The police action led to protests including by party workers. There was an altercation between the protestors and the police.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, who came to speak about environmental issues at the meeting, blamed the central government for the action of the Delhi Police. Even though the gate was locked, the organizers did not stop the event at Surjit Bhawan. Seminars on critical issues related to the G20 summit were the main agenda of the program. The seminars were on agriculture, food security and G20.