Welcoming smaller groups and individuals to join the Leftist parties to fight against communalism, veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) A.B. Bardhan on Tuesday urged all Left Front organisations to unite and take action instead of engaging in debates and discussions.
Stating that the education sector was facing the threat of ‘saffronisation’ and corporatisation of the economic sector was being discussed openly, the former CPI general secretary said the country is faced with a “dangerous situation.” He was speaking at a commemorative meet in memory of CPI leader Bhupesh Gupta. Leaders of 16 Left Front organisations were present at the meeting.
“Although there has been no riot, there is a riot-like situation in the country. Polarisation is taking place in poll-bound States and decisions are being taken on the basis of polarisation,” Mr. Bardhan said.
The Left Front should take note of this situation and jointly rise to the occasion, he said, giving the instance of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav (JD-U - RJD) alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar.
“Our resolve to fight jointly might be questioned… Real politics begins when people take to the streets in millions. We have to unite and fight for secularism,” Mr. Bardhan said.
Stating that the Left Front had not allowed communalism to enter into West Bengal, Politbureau member and MP of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) questioned how the State could be secular if it was being ruled by a party (All India Trinamool Congress) which had brought in a communalist party into the State.
Referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s former alliance with the BJP, Politbureau member and MP of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Sitaram Yechury questioned how Bengal could be secular when the Chief Minister had herself brought in communalist forces into the State.
Asked by journalists if the Left Front was considering an alliance with the AITC, Mr. Yechury ruled out alliances with the Congress and the AITC and said other secular parties were welcome.
“There is no question of a fight against communalism with such forces [AITC]. On issues of economic reforms and safeguarding the secular, democratic nature of India, we will cooperate with all secular forces. Lakhs of our sympathisers and members are not able to stay in their homes, cultivate their own lands, all thanks to the politics pursued by the AITC. If this is the level of democratic commitment, how will you fight communalism?” Mr. Yechury said.
“Democracy has been distorted… Mr. Modi, while on his foreign trips, is urging other countries to ‘Make in India’. By this, he means the other countries are free to make their products and profit, too, from India. While diesel prices have been deregulated, taxes on diesel have also been raised,” Mr. Yechury said.
Twin forces of labour and peasants are needed to counter the attack of communalism, he said, adding that the Left Front faces the same challenge as they had faced earlier in Bengal.
