Kerala: Youth, Farmers, Workers Organisations Flay Polarisation Plans of BJP, Call for Safeguarding Constitution

The 'Secular Street' program held across Kerala by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has raised apprehensions over the growing polarisation by the right-wing forces and attacks against the members of different minority communities. The event, held on August 15, called upon the people to resist the moves of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar organisations to polarise the country for electoral gains. 

Meanwhile, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) held ‘Freedom Vigil’ on August 14 to project independence, secularism and democracy. The leaders of the unions accused the BJP-led government of betraying the workers and farmers by siding with the corporates, serving their interests. 

The efforts of the sangh parivar organisations to polarise the society for electoral gains by mooting laws such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) without even prescribing the contents of the law, lack of attention on the high unemployment and struggles of the farmers were condemned during the events. 

POLARISING THE SOCIETY FOR POLITICAL GAINS

The DYFI held the Secular Street program in 42 places across Kerala, calling up the people to resist the moves of the current dispensation to convert the country into a Hindu Rashtra by implementing the policies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Rallies, candlelight marches and meetings were held on August 15 to highlight the threats posed on the secular, social fabric of the country. 

V K Sanoj, the Kerala state secretary of DYFI, speaking to NewsClick, said the organisation selected the slogan given the actions of the BJP-led government. “India should not be converted into a Hindu Rashtra. It should remain secular and protect the plurality across the country”, he said. 

Prior to the August 15 event, the DYFI held 218 regional-level padayatras to emphasise the danger posed to the Constitution of India, the judiciary and other constitutional bodies. 

Addressing a meeting in Pinarayi in Kannur district, Sunil P Ilayidom, renowned writer and professor at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, accused the BJP of resorting to extreme polarisation measures for electoral gains. 

“The Sangh Parivar guided government in some states are resorting to bulldozer raj, violating the legal procedures. They raze buildings and houses even before the law makes any decisions,” he said.

DYFI took out 218 regional-level padayatras during the first week of August ahead of the Secular Street program. (Photo: DYFI Kerala)

Referring to the observations of prime minister Narendra Modi on the need for UCC in a meeting of the BJP booth committee representatives, he said, “Speaking about UCC in an election preparation meeting exposes the very agenda behind it. The Sangh Parivar is propagating that Muslims have a separate rule is malicious.” 

Along with other democratic organisations, the DYFI has held seminars against the UCC being raked up just ahead of the general elections and called for the regularisation of personal laws. 

“The calls by the Hindu supremacist groups for the weaponisation of such organisations and social boycott of minorities, particularly the Muslims, are signs of deep-rooted regressive policies pursued by the Sangh Parivar outfits. Such efforts to divide the community should be stopped at any cost,” Ilayidom added. 

‘ENSURE WORKERS AND FARMERS' RIGHTS’

The Freedom Vigil of the CITU, AIKS and AIAWU extended beyond midnight of August 15. The three unions accused the BJP-led NDA government of compromising the hard-fought rights of the workers and farmers under the guise of ‘ease of doing business’ and the corporatisation of agriculture and allied infrastructure. The codification of labour laws, the introduction of three farm laws and the reduction of budgetary allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) became the key focus of the protests.

E P Jayarajan addressing the Freedom Vigil held in Gandhi Park, Thiruvananthapuram (Photo: CITU Kerala)

Addressing a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, E P Jayarajan, the national vice president of AIKS, accused the sangh parivar of propagating an extreme communal agenda. 

“The country is facing the threat of extreme polarisation from the sangh parivar organisations led by the BJP and RSS. Such organisations are doing this to retain power. Further, the real issues plaguing the people for the past 9 years are being overshadowed by the communal policies,” he said. 

The organisations called upon the people to stand united against the attacks on workers' and peasants' rights.