Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary Sitaram Yechury has given a call to the Left and secular democratic forces to come together to isolate and defeat the BJP, which according to him has been dividing the society along communal lines and undermining Constitutional institutions.
He urged all parties “that proclaim secularism to discharge this patriotic duty” and specifically asked the Congress and some other regional parties to set their house in order and decide “where they stand to safeguard the secular, democratic character of the Indian republic”.
Prevarications and compromising attitudes can only lead, as experience has shown, to an exodus from such parties towards the communal forces. Hindutva communalism can only be combated by championing uncompromising secularism, he reminded them after inaugurating the 23rd Party Congress of the CPI(M) here on Wednesday.
Mr. Yechury said that while his party would have to focus on substantially increasing its independent strength and political intervention capabilities, defeating the BJP would only be possible by undertaking sustained campaigns in the political, ideological, cultural, and social spheres.
The unity of Left forces should be strengthened by sharpening class and mass struggles and there should be a common minimum programme for the Left and the democratic forces. “The broadest possible front of all secular forces” would be needed to defeat Hindutva communalism, he said.
The pincer attack of global recession and the pandemic, he said, had exposed the inadequacy of capitalism as it heightened poverty, hunger, educational deprivation and intensified exploitation of the working class. In contrast, socialist countries effectively tackled the pandemic and got back on the growth track. In India, the manner in which the Left front government managed the pandemic earned domestic and international acclaim.
Mr. Yechury showered more praise on the CPI(M)-led government in the State for uncompromisingly upholding secularism and equality irrespective of caste, creed, and gender while seeking to implement pro-people policies as an alternative to the neoliberal agenda.
He also flayed the Centre for playing a junior partner to the United States’ imperialistic designs, waking up to the virtues of having an independent foreign policy only in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. India should now seriously consider distancing itself from the US-led alliances like the QUAD, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, D. Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), said that the Left alone could ideologically challenge and defeat the RSS. It was the historical responsibility of the Left to work in cooperation with other secular, democratic and regional parties to politically and ideologically defeat the BJP.
Messages from various Left parties within the country and outside were read out at the inaugural event. Earlier in the day, Polit Bureau member S. Ramachandran Pillai hoisted the ‘red flag’ at the Party Congress venue.
