CPI announces nationwide campaign against BJP, calls Bengal outcome ‘grave concern’

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India on Monday announced a nationwide political campaign against the BJP-led Centre, accusing the ruling dispensation of undermining secularism, federalism, parliamentary democracy and workers’ rights.

Addressing a press conference after the CPI National Council meeting in New Delhi, party general secretary D Raja said the campaign would include padyatras and mass mobilisation programmes across the country from August 6 to August 15, culminating in a massive rally in Delhi on September 28, the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

According to Raja, the campaign aims to build resistance against what the CPI described as the “anti-people, authoritarian and divisive policies of the RSS-BJP regime”.

The Left leader also voiced concern over the BJP forming a government in West Bengal for the first time, describing the development as a matter of “grave concern”.

“The Bengal situation demands serious introspection because the BJP capturing power in Bengal will have a serious impact on the very Constitution of India, and it will have repercussions on maintaining communal harmony in the state of Bengal as well as in the North East region,” Raja said.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the CPI alleged that the BJP’s rise in Bengal posed a threat to “social harmony” and questioned the fairness of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, claiming that a large number of voters had been deleted from electoral rolls.

Raja admitted that the Left had failed to emerge as a viable political alternative in the state.

“We thought Left would revive itself, and Left will re-emerge as a force again to shape the political future of West Bengal. It did not happen. Congress party also could not do anything,” he said, adding that the Left parties would undertake “serious introspection”.

The CPI also criticised the BJP government in Assam, alleging that communal polarisation and divisive politics had intensified there.

Raja said the upcoming campaign would focus on issues such as unemployment, inflation, attacks on democratic institutions, trade agreements, agrarian distress and women’s reservation.

“India should remain a multidimensional country, and Indian democracy should remain a multiparty democracy. But the BJP and RSS are opposing this kind of India,” he said.

The CPI further accused the Centre of promoting “pro-corporate” economic policies and criticised the replacement of MGNREGA with what it termed the “contractor-driven VB GRAM G Act”.

Calling it “a systematic attack on rural employment, decentralisation and workers’ rights”, the party alleged that the Centre was weakening welfare measures aimed at rural labourers.

Raja also accused the government of weakening Parliament and democratic institutions.

“Parliament is the supreme institution of our democracy. After the BJP came to power, Parliament is undermined. If Parliament becomes redundant, democracy dies,” he said.

On women’s reservation, the CPI leader alleged that the BJP government had delayed implementation of the legislation by linking it to delimitation and census exercises.

“Shamelessly, they call it Nari Shakti Vandan. Where is Nari Shakti, where is Vandan?” Raja asked.

The party additionally criticised India’s trade agreements with the US and European Union, alleging that they prioritised corporate interests over farmers and domestic producers.

Commenting on the political situation in Tamil Nadu, Raja defended the CPI’s support to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam during government formation after the Assembly elections.

“Respecting the mandate of the people, the governor should invite the single largest party,” he said.

He also accused the BJP of attempting to create a constitutional crisis in Tamil Nadu through the alleged misuse of the governor’s office.

Rejecting speculation about internal dissent within the CPI over recent election setbacks, Raja said there was “no question of protest or anything” inside the party and asserted that leaders from all states participated in the National Council meeting.

Emphasising the importance of opposition unity, Raja said: “Left parties must put up a strong collective fight. And left unity is very important. Along with it, our National Council discussed how to unite the secular democratic parties to save India as a nation.”