BJP backing communal forces: Yechury

Sangareddy (Telangana): CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury today accused the ruling BJP of “encouraging communal forces” in the country and creating a fear psychosis in minds of minorities and dalits by intimidating them.

“BJP is encouraging communal forces as well as attacks on minorities. Atrocities on dalits are becoming very common.

They are living in fear while precious human lives are at stake on what to eat and what not to. Such incidents and ideology are dangerous to the country and our secular fabric is being threatened (sic),” Yechury said.

He was addressing a two-day conclave of the CPI-M Telangana State Extended Executive Committee, which began here today.

Observing that any kind of intolerance is “condemnable”, the Left leader said, “The NDA government has done nothing concrete to control such forces which imply that they are supporting the communal forces”.

He said returning of awards by various authors, filmmakers and other prominent persons in protest against ‘intolerance’ is not new as Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore had also returned his award to the British government.

“As scores of authors, artists, poets and scientists have returned their awards against growing intolerance, the government should take a serious note and initiate remedial measures,” he said.

Referring to the BJP’s debacle in Bihar Assembly elections, Yechury said, “The BJP’s intolerance mantra is not acceptable to the country’s secular people and the Bihar verdict is a clear indication to the BJP that such communal politics will not garner votes or seats for them”.

He also took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “frequently” touring foreign countries.

“Nothing has been achieved through Modi’s foreign trips.

Economical growth has slowed down, prices of petrol and diesel have shot up 9 times in last sixteen months, rate of farmers’ suicide has gone up by 19 per cent under NDA dispensation,” Yechury said.

He alleged that farmers are yet to get satisfactory minimum support price for their produce and that manufacturing sector has slowed down to 2 per cent.

“Prices of pulses are skyrocketing and the common man cannot afford dal in his meal,” the general secretary said.

He said the CPI(M) will conduct a nationwide programme from December 1 to denounce the BJP’s “communal agenda”.

PTI