‘BJP’s communal agenda must be defeated’

Leaders of political parties opposed to the BJP’s ideology take part in interaction programme

Representatives of political parties opposed to the BJP’s ideology have underlined the need to defeat the “communal agenda of the BJP” so that the secular credentials of the country are protected.

Participants

Participating in an interaction programme, organised by the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike here on Sunday, on ways to defeat communalism, leaders of political parties such as the Congress, Janata Dal (Secular), Left parties, Bahujan Samaj Party and Aam Aadmi Party observed that the fight against communal forces should not be limited to the Lok Sabha elections.

They demanded a commitment to continue the struggle against the “divisive politics” of the BJP even after the elections.

At the same time, a few leaders took the Congress government in the State to task for not acting against communal forces in coastal Karnataka.

Referring to the attack on a woman councillor in Mangalore allegedly by right wing forces and the increase in incidents of moral policing in coastal Karnataka, they sought to know why the government was going soft on Hindutva forces.

‘Default choice’

Writer Chandrashekar Patil said the Congress had become the default choice of secular-minded communities. “But the Congress should not take the support of secular forces for granted,” he cautioned.

Criticised

Prof. Patil also expressed his reservations over Jnanpith Award winners U.R. Ananthamurthy and Girish Karnad endorsing corporate heavyweights.

He also criticised writer K. Marulasiddappa for acknowledging senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, while rejecting BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Lashing out at Mr. Modi, Congress leader Ugrappa sought the support of secular parties in defeating his party.

Ramesh Babu of the JD(S) said the party had committed a mistake in the past by joining hands with the BJP to form the government.

Veerasangaiah of Sarvodaya Karnataka said: “There are no differences on the issue of defeating the BJP. But, who should we support? It is difficult to differentiate between the Congress and the BJP.”

N. Babaiah presided over the interaction programme.