Castro will continue to inspire people: Left

Left leaders today paid glowing tributes to "Friend of India" Fidel Castro, saying the qualities the Cuban revolutionary represented need to be imbibed to bring about societal change and human liberation.
"Why we say Fidel is immortal? We, the people fighting against exploitation, say so because he represents certain revolutionary traits that will continue to inspire people fighting for human liberation.
"We need to understand those for our revolutionary protests, to bring about societal change, human liberation. These qualities need to be imbibed by all of us," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said during a condolence meeting organised by the Left party here.

The meeting was attended also by Cuban ambassador to India, Oscar Martinez Cardoves, his Vietnamese counterpart Ton Sinh Thanh, CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, ex-CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI national secretary D Raja.
Yechury stressed determination, grit and ability of Castro to analyse concretely, changing situation, saw him carry forward revolution against imperialist forces over a span during which the Cuban leader "outlasted 10 US Presidents".
Reddy lauded Castro for practicing Marxism-Leninism in Cuba post-revolution and successfully fought "most cruel" economic blockade imposed on the country by the US during his life, inspiring other Latin American countries.

"Blockades were imposed on other countries too like Iraq. We have seen how blockade could destroy small countries. But Cuba could resist all this and fought back (under Castro's leadership)," Reddy said.

Seconding him, Raja said justice and dignity for all were the ideals of Cuban revolution and said communist parties world over need to carry forward the legacy Castro left behind.
On his part, Cardoves dubbed Castro as "Friend of India" and thanked people of the country and Left parties here for paying rich tributes to the leader.
"Fidel has a special place in our country...He is an example of dignity, unity.We will continue the legacy he left behind, for our country, for humanism," the ambassador said.