Pressures from 'US imperialism' were influencing India's policies particularly in the economic sector and this 'intrusion' was posing a big challenge to the working class of the country, the Communist Party of India-Marxist said on Tuesday.

Addressing a May Day gathering at the CPI-M headquarters in New Delhi, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the entry of foreign investment in the country was reflective of this US pressure.

"It is not about one government. It is about the policies of the ruling class; whether it is the present Congress-led government or the previous Bharatiya Janata Party regime. This US intrusion is a big challenge to the trade union movement and should be fought unitedly," Karat added.

He said the penetration of US policies was evident in sectors like education and other key areas besides in the economic policies of the country.

Another major challenge was 'communalism perpetrated by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,' which is trying to divide the working class on the lines of caste and religion.

"You have seen the face of communalism as recently as in Gujarat in the form of the fake encounters. The BJP and the RSS are trying to spread the poison of communalism and divide the working people," he added.

He also spoke about the US invasion of Iraq and the valiant struggle waged by the people of that country and referred to the anti-imperialist campaign by Latin American countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba and Bolivia and the people of Palestine.