CPI (M) politburo member Prakash Karat has accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of pursuing the Hindutva agenda under RSS pressure and said it is strange that those who had no role to play in the Indian freedom struggle had now become the proponents of nationalism.
"The RSS has been against the reservation of the backward class but cannot talk openly about it. So, it is demanding reservation for upper class Hindu hardliners," he said.
Karat slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for getting closer with the United States and also questioned its anti-China strategy.
Asserting that there can be no nationalism without opposing imperialism, Karat alleged the BJP-led NDA Government has extended the defence deal with America for another 10 years allowing the US to use the Indian Air Force and Naval bases for their own purpose targeting to prevent the growth of China.
Karat, who was addressing a gathering here on the occasion of centenary celebrations of former party general secretary and veteran communist Harkishan Singh Surjeet, also expressed confidence that the Left would emerge victorious in West Bengal and Kerala this time.
Attempting to reach out to the farmers, he alleged that Prime Minister Modi did nothing worthy of mention for the holistic development of the country in the last 21 months in office.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and state CPI (M) secretary Bijan Dhar were among those present in the programme organised in the Rabindra Centenary Hall.