MADURAI
Bharatiya Janata Party’s claims of being the only party capable of fighting terrorism were farcical as was evident from the manifold increase in terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir (J &K) and deaths of soldiers, said Sitaram Yechury, general secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Tuesday.
Addressing a public meeting in support of the party’s candidate for Madurai parliamentary constituency Su. Venkatesan, he said that while instances of terrorism increased by about 200 % in J&K, deaths of soldiers increased more than threefold in the past five years.
“Terrorism is an enemy of the nation and we all want to be united in our fight against it. But instead of staying united, BJP is trying to divide the country in this fight,” he said.
Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that terrorism would end after India’s ‘surgical strike’ in retaliation to the attack on armed forces in Uri in 2016, Mr. Yechury, however, said that instances of terrorism continued unabated.
“Even as we speak, details are emerging about a Maoist attack in Dantewada,” he added.
Blaming the BJP for its ‘multifarious attacks’ on its people in the last five years through disastrous policies and undermining of institutions, he said that the party was now relying on emotional appeals to win votes.
“In an interview to a TV channel today, the Prime Minister asks people to vote for the valour of Indian Air Force (IAF). We all respect IAF and will of course vote if any IAF personnel contest the elections. But why should we vote for you Mr. Modi for the valour of IAF,” he asked.
He said that the BJP had failed on all its promises, particularly those made on farmers’ welfare and employment. “Instead of answering for their failures, they have made the same promises again in their present manifesto,” he said, adding that only the super rich friends of the Prime Minister benefited under his government.
Alleging that public money was being looted under BJP’s rule, he said that the latest revelation was the scam in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets, which, he pointed out, was being exposed by The Hindu. He blamed Tamil Nadu government led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami for being a partner to the BJP in the loot.
He appealed to the public to vote for Secular Progressive Alliance led by the DMK in Tamil Nadu as forming a secular and democratic government at the Centre was as important as voting out BJP. He indicated that a change of regime will soon happen in Tamil Nadu as well under the leadership of DMK president M.K. Stalin.