A AKHTER /NEW DELHI
Several opposition parties today showed an unprecedented unity to fight against the Prime Minister Modi led central government and the agenda of RSS.
The occasion was a conference ‘UNITY OF PROGRESSIVE FORCES’ on the birth anniversary of veteran socialist leader Madhu Limaye.
The meeting represented by Congress, NCP, JDU, SP, RJD, RLD, CPM, CPI, JDS and others stressed the need of unity among anti BJP forces. Speakers after speakers including Digvijay Singh, Sitaram Yachuri, Sharad Yadav, Ajit called for unity against RSS and BJP and the anti people’ policy of Modi government.
Addressing the conclave Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh claimed that in the present context the fight is between democratic and fascist forces and if the country has to be saved from these fascist forces, the only alternative is the unity of the progressive forces. The Congress general secretary repeatedly stressed on the unity of secular forces and said it is the only way to stop fascist powers.
“Today the need of the country is not anti-Congress-ism rather it is about giving a positive narrative so that we can save this democracy. And all the forces who want to fight against communalism and the divide between the rich and the poor, they have to become one. BJP and RSS stayed away from the freedom struggle and they want to rewrite it,” he added.
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury urged that it is not possible to save and strengthen India’s secular and democratic values, if the secular forces don’t join hands. He mentioned, “The first litmus test of this unity is the upcoming Presidential election because it will determine whether this government is under the supervision of a secular president or a communal one.”
Yechury said that Opposition parties should create a situation so that a secular candidate is elected. “Lets first achieve this and then we will think about the future course of action.”
Former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who is considered a possible presidential candidate of a united Opposition, said “Whatever he promised in 2014 is not happening. Instead, issues like ghar wapsi and love jihad are being raised across the country,” he stated and went on to claim that Opposition unity has already happened which can be witnessed inside the Parliament. “The entire Opposition is united in Rajya Sabha because parties fear that India’s unity is in danger.”
Renowned historian Irfan Habib reminded those present about RSS’s role during the freedom movement and how it was the socialists and communists who played a crucial role. He said, “This government wants to raise religion on every occasion which is very dangerous for the country. If you raise religion before every elections and every discourse then the country won’t remain united for long.”
He stressed that RSS’ nefarious agenda should be demolished and how crucial it is to stop the rise of semi-fascist dictatorship in India. “Left forces should ensure whether India is still the same as it was before Independence or has Bharat changed? We have to stand united and also present contrary idealism in the times of capitalism.”
The leaders of trade union too took part in the conclave and questioned the policies of the NDA regime on farmers, workers and the common man.
Madhu Limaye was one of the most articulate exponents of anti Congress politics, after Ram Manohar Lohia.
With a firm belief in democracy and democratic values, Limaye fought relentlessly to protect the parliamentary sovereignty. Through his writings, speeches and actions he sought to protect democratic heritage in more ways than one.
Madhu, played an active part in the JP movement and in the effort to create a united opposition party, 1974-77. He was detained under MISA from July 1975 to February 1977 in various Madhya Pradesh Jails.
KC Tyagi, Ajay Singh, Santosh Bhartiya, Prof. Rajkumar Jain, Prof. Anand Kumar, Rama Shankar Singh, Ravinder Manchanda, Ravi Nayar, Vijay Pratap, Anurag Chaturvedi, Jaishankar Gupta, Arvind Mohan, Dr Sunilam, Qurban Ali were among the organiser of the successful conclave of opposition unity.
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