There is a deliberate attempt by the Central government to decimate democracy, poet and critic K. Satchidanandan has said. He was inaugurating the State convention of the Purogamana Kalasahitya Sangham (Pukasa) here on Sunday.
Democracy was under threat in the country. Whether an authoritarian such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was following the law, acknowledging the importance of the opposition, supporting violence, and regulating the media were the questions to ask to gauge if the country was sliding towards fascism, he said.
Mr. Modi who did not like press meets had become the sole voice of the government. The opposition did not have any freedom, and the media was being used for propaganda.
Dissent or any kind of organised opposition was being silenced. Be it academics, writers, thinkers, Dalits, Adivasis, women, workers, or anyone else, the government was using threats, violence, and censorship to muzzle them, Mr. Satchidanandan said.
Mr. Modi had not condemned the violence, merely saying his party was not behind it. However, it was groups hidden behind it with different names but same goals such as Hanuman Sena, Ram Sena, or Durga Vahini that were behind such incidents, he said.
It was the responsibility of the people and organisations such as the Pukasa to increase the political space in every sphere, he said.
Referring to the controversy over ‘Meesa,’ he said, a small segment did not see Hareesh’s book in its entirety, but chose to see only a few words. “They did not look at it from the point of view of the downtrodden.”
Cultural front
CPI(M) leader P. Rajeev, in his keynote address, said fascism was fast gaining ground, and a cultural front was needed to counter it. There was need to find common ground.
Even if someone belonged to the political right, but his or her work espoused progressive ideals, that should be embraced.
The convention passed three resolutions. One was to demand passing of a Bill seeking a ban on superstitious and occult practices.
Religion and caste were holding sway at important junctures of life such as birth, marriage, and death. Though the State had a high literacy rate, scientific awareness among the people was low.
Strong interventions were needed for this.
The convention called on people to help the government’s relief efforts in the rain-affected areas and contribute to the Chief Minister’s relief fund. It also called for a stop to moved to build a Public Service Commission office on land in Thrissur where the Balbhavan functions.
Denying children’s rights in a district declared child-friendly could not be accepted, it said.
