NEW DELHI: CPM leader Prakash Karan on Friday stressed on the need for a robust political and ideological fight against forces trying to “subvert the secular democratic fabric of India.” Speaking at the inauguration of the first phase of the Jyoti Basu Centre for Social Studies and Research, Karat accused these forces of seeking to establish “Hindutva as the state’s official ideology.”
“The fight against such forces is not purely and merely in the electoral sphere, it is a political and ideological fight against the forces of irrationality,” he said.
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Reflecting on historical events, Karan mentioned the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, and recalled former West Bengal CM Jyoti Basu’s strong condemnation of the act. Basu had referred to the perpetrators and the forces behind it as “barbarians.”
“Today, those very forces have seized state power and are attempting to impose Hindutva as the state’s ideology,” Karat said, without explicitly naming any political group.
Highlighting the significance of Jyoti Basu’s legacy, Karat said, “If he were alive today, he would be at the forefront of the secular and democratic struggle against these regressive forces.”
Karat praised Basu’s leadership in the communist movement, specifying his role in advancing the cause of the working class and strengthening the Left and democratic movements in India. “In West Bengal, Basu exemplified how communists should operate within legislatures and state governments to serve the working people and promote progressive change,” he added.
Karat also underlined the contributions of former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and former CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury in establishing the Jyoti Basu Centre.
The event also featured Rabindrasangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya as the special guest. Left Front chairman Biman Bose and CPM state secretary Md Salim also addressed the gathering.