Indians protest joint air drill with US

The left-wing parties, whose support shores up the central coalition, have opposed the exercises, calling them part of a larger US strategy to set up military bases in the region.

At the Kalaikunda air force base, about 120 km southwest of Kolkata, over 100,000 people raised slogans outside the sprawling defence complex as hundreds of armed police and soldiers stood guard.

"Uncle Sam go away. This is our soil," sang protesters, mostly peasants from nearby villages, as US and Indian fighter jets roared past in mock dogfights.

Activists, who arrived on foot and in crowded trucks, also burned an effigy of US President George Bush.

"We have come here because our national security is under threat," said Gorachand Naik, squatting on a paddy field.