Political leaders for common platform to fight fascist forces

NEW DELHI: Cutting across party lines, political leaders today expressed concern over the growth of " fascist forces" in the country and suggested a common platform to defeat it.

Addressing the national convention of NGO Anhad on the topic of "India's Descent into Fascism. How to stop it?", the leaders also spoke against the "neo-liberal policies" which they said has led to unplanned development.

Observing that fascist forces are on rise in the country, NCP leader D P Tripathi said the neo-liberal policies and last three decades of "ill-planned" reforms have turned the Indian middle-class into the most insensitive group in the country.

"India is turning into a fascist country very fast and if we don't act now it will be very late," Tripathi said.

He also claimed, "Anti-Muslim bias is rooted in the nature of Indian state. But I don't find the same bias against Christianity and other communities."

The programme was also attended by CPI leader R Raja, LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan and Nilotpal Basu from CPI (M).

Raja lashed out at both BJP and Congress over their ongoing debate for prime ministerial candidate, saying it is against the ethos of Indian democracy.

"It is undermining our democracy. We don't have a two-party system, we don't have bi-polarity in the country. The way these parties are behaving... this is not the way to conduct politics and respect our Constitution," he said.

Targeting BJP leader Narendra Modi, Raja said, "The industrialists praising Modi don't have any answer when I ask them about the lowest Human Development Index in Gujarat. While we are threatened by the growth of communal and fascist forces, the threat is equally big from neo-liberal forces."

Observing that Hitler came to power when Germany was in turmoil, he said, "We are undergoing the same social, economic, political and regional turmoils. Entire South Asia is under turmoil. This is the time to be cautious."

Paswan, while addressing the gathering, attacked BJP and RSS for "disrupting communal harmony" in the country.

"Everytime a terror incident takes place Muslim youths are arrested. But if you go by the reports of intelligence agencies, several of these blasts were carried out by right-wing groups like RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP," he said.

Paswan sought to disassociate the growth of fascist forces from any religious group.

"Such things have no religion. There are factors in every group and religion and we have to be together to defeat them. One should never forget that Mahatma Gandhi was not killed by a Muslim," he said.

Nilotpal Basu, meanwhile, sought to draw attention towards financial support to the fascist forces.

"This new trend of fascism has its base in thoughts of many people who support it financially."

He also attacked the corporate houses for giving "undue advantage" to Modi and "projecting him as the future Prime Minister of the country."

"The way all corporate bodies are welcoming Narendra Modi, it seems he has been declared as the Prime Minister," he said.