Brinda Karat calls for a Bahujan Left Front

The first task before the Communists is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s communal politics by uniting the Left, Bahujan and other democratic and progressive forces, committed to the cause of fighting Manuvaad, neo-liberal economic policies and divisive politics with an alternative vision, said CPI (M) polit bureau member Brinda Karat.

On the basis of alternative policies, we have to build a Left-democratic front, enlisting the support of other progressive and social organisations, she said, adding that the job during the elections should be the extension of the “same vision”.

The priority should be to work along with the Left parties, followed by social groups and organisations, which share the same vision, but not with the TRS, the TDP and the Congress, she said.

The Bahujan Left Front is the way forward to fight against the neo-liberal economic policies and empower the socially marginalised and downtrodden sections in the State, she said. She was addressing a seminar on “The present political situation and the role of communists” organised by the CPI (M) district committee here on Sunday, as a prelude to the 22nd party congress to be held in Hyderabad from April 18 to 22.

On the recent meeting of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a reported attempt to forge a new political front, she said, “Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao should spell out his party’s policy and their alternative vision. BJP and Mamata regime are competing with each other in destroying democracy, she alleged.

Launching a blistering attack on the BJP government at the Centre, she alleged that the RSS’s fascist agenda being pursued by the BJP regime in the name of “Hindutva” has posed the greatest threat to Indian democracy and the people of the country.

The BJP is a party of ruling classes of India. It represents the interests of big corporates and imperialistic forces which want to enslave India, she said. The fascist forces are perpetrating violence, giving arms to children and women in the name of Rama and religion, she alleged, saying Hindutva has nothing to do with religion.

In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, “The BJP dispensation helped the big corporates maximise their profits in the last four years. A whopping ₹11 lakh crore non-performing assets were given to the big corporates by the public sector banks and several big corporate defaulters were allowed to go scot-free. The present regime punished common people by thrusting demonetisation and made their lives miserable in the name of notebandi.”

Despite suffering a setback in Tripura, the CPI(M) secured 45 % votes in the recent Assembly elections. All the “anti-Communist” parties ganged up with opportunistic politics in the elections, she said.

The recent massive foot march by farmers in Maharashtra under the banner of the Red Flag made the BJP regime to bow down before the peasants, and other farm workers, she reiterated.