Minister for Revenue E. Chandrasekharan has alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already begun efforts to create a communal divide in society in a bid to win the next Lok Sabha elections.
Inaugurating the valedictory function of the birth centenary celebrations of C. Unniraja, veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, here on Tuesday, he alleged that the move to polarise the society in the guise of regulating cattle trade was part of that plan. “Human beings are being murdered in a bid to save cattle. So far, 28 people have been killed as part of beef-related violence. People in Nagpur are deciding what we should eat, what we should wear, etc.,”
Mr. Chandrasekharan alleged that three years after the BJP government came to power, none of its major pre-poll promises had been turned into reality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to create 10 crore jobs in five years, but only around three lakh jobs had been created so far. “On the one hand, the government is faltering on its promises, and their hidden agenda is revealed on the other.” He claimed that some people were out there to teach what Indian culture and traditions were and those who opposed their move were portrayed as “enemies of the state.”
“Research students in major universities are their main targets. Funds are being cut and efforts are on to replace the University Grants Commission with Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan,” said Mr. Chandrasekharan.
The Minister said the contributions of those like Unniraja would help people fight the difficult phase in history with grit. “Unniraja, like many of his peers, was born in an upper caste family and was exposed to modern education. But, he left a comfortable life behind to strive for the working class and the oppressed sections of society,” he said.
CPI leaders C.N. Chandran and Sathyan Mokeri, and U. Vikraman, Unniraja’s son, were present.