Communist Party of India (Marxist [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat has called for greater unity of Left parties to fight the threat posed by the neo-liberal policies of the Union government.
Addressing the valedictory of the ‘EMS Smrithi,’ a two-day programme organised in memory of former Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad here on Tuesday, Mr. Karat said the country had been facing the onslaught of neo-liberal policies and the Hindutva agenda.
“An electoral fight alone is not sufficient to face the authoritarian rule of the BJP government, which is thrusting upon people the neo-liberal policies and Hindutva agenda. A wider platform of mass organisations and Left parties is necessary to fight the right wing offensive. When facing a larger enemy, we should forget minor differences over political ideologies,” he said. He said it was the responsibility of Left parties to bring all fragmented struggles against the authoritarian regime together. Mr. Karat cautioned against minority fundamentalism as well as extremism, which he said equally posed threat to society. Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury urged the Left parties to address the class issues to ensure an equitable society.
Mr. Yechury said the CPI(M) would initiate a movement to take up issues of the under-privileged.
Environmental activist Medha Patkar urged the LDF government to conduct an environmental impact assessment before implementing the Athirappilly project
Left leaders including Sudhakar Reddy, Prabhat Patnaik, K. Schithanandan, Subhashini Ali, Annie Raja, T.N. Seema, M.A. Baby, Leena Manimekalai, Benoy Viswom, Kanhaiya Kumar, and others participated in the discussions.
