Intolerance, divisiveness vitiating our socio-political system: Somnath Chatterjee

KOLKATA: Reiterating his stand on ‘intolerance’, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee yet again said that “Intolerance, divisiveness, corruption, confrontations and disrespect for dissent are increasingly vitiating’ the social-political system in the country. Chatterjee was today speaking in a programme organized by Bengal Congress unit to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Flanked by senior Congress dignitaries including Pradesh Congress chief Adhir Choudhury and

Prof. G Mohan Gopal, veteran communist Chatterjee, said, “we need to seriously ponder and address the issues of corruption, criminalization and the communalization of politics, the vicious role being played by money and muscle powers and, more significantly, growing signs of intolerance in our society shown by different segments. There is today an imperative need for effective political polarization around policies and programmes that are vital to all the classes and categories of our diverse population.”

"Most alarmingly, intolerance, divisiveness, corruption, confrontations and disrespect for dissent are increasingly vitiating our socio-political system. Added to this is the attempt by some institutions to malign and marginalize important people's forum with an inten to occupy larger space that what is ideally feasible or constitutionally permissible in a representative democratic system," Chatterjee further added.

The programme was attended by social activist Teesta Setalvad and senior historian Hosainur Rahman. Launching a scathing attack againt prime Minister Narendra Modi, activist Teesta The government at centre is only implementing extreme right wing economic policies. We do not have fascism in power. We have a fascist in power. Modi government has removed the word Secular.” Lauding the efforts of gran alliance in Bihar, she added,” Let us call it a Bihar moment and celebrate. The secular parties like Congress, CPM and other left parties should now ponder over the fact and see what can be done about the 69 % votes that BJP could not get.”

Sidelined TMC leader and former general secretary Mukul Roy, rebel CPM leader and former minister Abdul Rezzak Mollah were there. Moreover, a team of senior leaders of CPM including central and state committee members—Sujan Chakraborty, Ashok Bhattcharya, Shamik Lahiri and Rabin Deb—were also present in the programme.