Bigger Platform of Secular Forces Needed to Counter BJP: Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitram Yechury. Image Courtesy: ANI
Agartala: There is need for forming a bigger platform of secular forces to counter the challenges posed by the saffron camp, CPI(M) general secretary Sitram Yechury said here on Wednesday
Attempts are being made to push for ‘fascistic Hindutva’ in the country by scuttling the constitutional spirit, he said at a party programme here.
“The four main pillars of Indian democracy -- secularism, economic sovereignty, social justice and federalism -- are at stake. The government is not accountable as Parliament has stopped functioning properly,” he said.
The Constitution cannot be saved if BJP is not uprooted from power, the Communist party of India (Marxist) leader claimed.
“Besides consolidating the strength of the CPI (M) and other Left parties, there is a need to bring all secular forces together to counter the challenges the county is facing now. The united fight of security forces can save the country from becoming a fascistic Hindutva state,” he said.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Yechury said BJP has brought in “bulldozer politics”, adding that those who are following the Constitution are being sent to jail while garlands are offered to those violating it.
The party in power at the Centre continues to form government no matter if it loses or wins polls, he said.
“Elections are not being conducted free and fairly. The BJP has been able to form government in some states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh even after defeats,” he said.
On the release of the 11 life convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, he said they were set free following the recommendation of the BJP government in Gujarat.
“It is good the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case,”, he said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider listing a plea challenging the grant of remission by the Gujarat government to 11 life convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.
Bano, who was pregnant at that time, was gang-raped while 14 people including her three-year-old daughter, were killed during the Gujarat riot in 2002.
Former chief minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Manik Sarkar and the party's state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.
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