India moving towards fascism, says Yechury

With RSS-BJP at the helm, India is moving towards fascism, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury suggested here today, striking a note different from his senior colleague Prakash Karat who feels the country cannot become a fascist state.
"...The BJP acts as the political arm of the RSS. The RSS has a fascist agenda and that fascist agenda is an effort to try and replace the Indian secular democratic Constitutional republic with their form of 'Hindu Rashtra'. That is something we are opposed to. We will continue being opposed to.
"So, it is not a fascist state, but the movement towards fascism. They want to do.. That is something we will not allow to happen," Yechury told reporters.

Earlier, in an article in an English daily recently, Karat had said that conditions are not present in India for a fascist regime to be established. He had said the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is showing "authoritarianism" but not "fascism".
Speaking to reporters after party's three-day Central Committee (CC) here today, Yechury said fascism means replacement of Parliamentary democracy by open terroristic dictatorship, a change which he said, that has not happened in India.
He stated that the "danger of fascism" must be fought at all levels.

Asked if the Committee debated the issue, Yechury evaded a direct reply saying, "I told you our party position. Everybody (including CC members) knows the party position."

During its meeting, the CC gave a call for building anti-communal platforms with democratic and secular forces.
When asked if it meant the CPI(M) would be joining hands with Congress, Yechury said it is not a "party-to-party" understanding and has nothing to do with elections.
Asked if the TMC government in West Bengal, which is
often accused by the CPI(M) of unleashing attacks on Left cadre in the state, is exhibiting "fascism", Yechury said, "It has fascistic methods... We have talked about it in political resolution at party congress."
Among other issues, the CPI(M) leader said the CC expressed concern over Modi not attending the ongoing Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.

It is the first instance that an Indian Prime Minister has not attended the summit, he said, adding this is not in the interest of India.
Yechury said it could be because of pressure exerted by the US.
He said, during the meeting, the CC lauded the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government's performance in Kerala, saying it has delivered on some of the poll promises made within 100 days of assuming office.
At the same time, Yechury accused RSS-BJP of inflicting violence against the Left cadre in the southern state.
The Committee also decided to take steps to strengthen party centre and PB/CC functioning to strengthen CPI(M) as per the decisions of the Kolkata Plenum on Organisation held last year.

Meanwhile, the party has also decided to observe October Revolution Centenary on its centenary beginning November 7 this year.