The 22nd State conference of the Communist Party of India (CPI) got under way here on Friday with party general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy stressing the need for regeneration of the Left and communist movements to resist the rising incidents of intolerance and the sway of corporates in policymaking in the country after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power at the Centre.
Addressing the 600-odd delegates at the opening session of the five-day conference, Mr Reddy said the BJP was riding a wave of negative vote against the Congress rule that was caught up in a series of corruption charges, aided by the corporate sector and the corporate media which dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an orator who could fulfil aspirations of the people.
“However, he has turned out to be a third rate demagogue who was selling promises to the people,” Mr. Reddy said and added that none of the promises could be realised by the BJP during the past 300 days.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, Mr. Modi had been pursuing a pro-corporate reform movement in which the labour laws were being amended, factory rules were changed, and the rights won by long-standing struggles were being taken away.
“Along with the political offensive by the BJP, the Sangh Parivar is engaged in a communal offensive with the aim of generating a communal divide in society,” he said.
The result of the 2014 elections was a “big jolt for the Left,” he said but made it clear that it would not be demoralised by the setback.
ADVERTISEMENT
“If we do not get enough representation, we will carry on the struggle on the streets, in the fields, and in factories,” Mr. Reddy said.
“The Sangh Parivar has thrown up a challenge and the Left has to take the responsibility to oppose it,” Mr. Reddy said.
He added that the 22nd Party Congress scheduled in Puducherry would chart out strategies for the regeneration of the Left.
‘Need to resist rising incidents of intolerance and sway of corporates in policymaking’