India News | CPI Leaders Vow to Build Left Unity, Bring Together Secular Forces to Defeat BJP at Key Meet
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Building Left unity and bringing together secular and democratic forces to challenge the "authoritarian politics" of the ruling BJP are among the key focus areas, leaders of the CPI(M) said at the 24th party congress that kicked off here on Wednesday.
Madurai, Apr 2 (PTI) Building Left unity and bringing together secular and democratic forces to challenge the "authoritarian politics" of the ruling BJP are among the key focus areas, leaders of the CPI(M) said at the 24th party congress that kicked off here on Wednesday.
The key party meeting of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) comes at a crucial time as India is facing "extreme challenges" and needs "secular unity", CPI(M) Politburo member and president of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Ashok Dhawale said.
"We are looking at the extreme challenges facing India today in the form of the RSS-BJP government at the Centre. It's extremely anti-people, pro-corporate, communal, authoritarian and neo-fascist," Dhawale told PTI.
"We believe that all other forces in the country must come together to fight this government, to defeat this government. Otherwise, what we have seen in the last 11 years, this tragedy would continue for many more years.
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"We don't want that to happen because only a few people are gaining everything at the expense of the vast majority," he added.
Dhawale said while seeking broad secular unity, the party is also going to focus on increasing its independent strength and bringing together Left forces all over India.
Politburo member Subhashini Ali said a stronger CPI(M) is important for battling the BJP.
"The focus is on two things that are interlinked, building a stronger CPI(M), and fighting the BJP and its authoritarian politics. These two are linked, without a strong CPI(M), we think the battle against the BJP and its policies cannot be fought," Ali told PTI.
Former eight-time Lok Sabha MP and Politburo member Hannan Mollah stressed that secular forces should come together even if there are differences.
"Our country is facing a serious challenge. The values that emerged from the independence struggle, the dream of a united India, and the anti-imperialistic ideas, are being challenged.
"We are all wondering that perhaps our dream of India may come to an end. Communalism and imperialism are expanding, and rational, scientific thinking is being pushed away. It is a very, very grave situation," Mollah told PTI.
The former MP said well-meaning people should come together to protect the country's Constitution.
"There are difficulties in coming together, ego problems are there sometimes. But we have to forget all differences and come together. If we do not do this, we will betray the people," he said.
Member of CPI(M) Central Committee and Kulgam MLA M Y Tarigami said the situation in the country at present is "unparalleled" and will be discussed and debated.
"The party congress comes at a challenging time. The country is facing serious problems, serious crisis. In the deliberations, the nature of the current situation will be discussed and debated, and a political line will be evolved on how to face these challenges," Tarigami said.
"There is an onslaught of Hindutva politics which is against the secular values of the country, minorities, and working people. This nexus of corporate and Hindutva is creating certain situations which are unparalleled," he said.
Central Committee member A K Balan said the RSS poses an "unimaginable" danger to the country and neo-fascism must be defeated to safeguard the Constitution.
"This is an important party congress in the history of CPI(M). The danger we are going to face is neo-fascism. It is not a simple thing, it has to be defeated. Unless it is defeated we cannot safeguard the Constitution. The danger posed by RSS elements is unimaginable. How to face it is the important political issue we are going to discuss," he said.
The five-day CPI(M) congress will conclude on April 6. Apart from deciding the political-tactical line of the party, a new Central Committee will also be elected.
The Central Committee would also elect from among its members a Politburo, including the General Secretary. The number of members in the Politburo is decided by the Central Committee.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)