'Modi sarkar's communal agenda is a threat to our country'

‘Modi’s Ashwamedh horse will be stopped by two brothers -- farmers and workers in Bihar polls.’

On Monday, six major Left parties, headed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist, came together and decided to contest the upcoming Bihar polls. At the event, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury promised the people an alternate to BJP’s feudal, communal government and the opportunistic alliance of the Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Janata Dal United.

Sitaram Yechury speaks to M I Khan about the Left’s future in politics and their chances in the Bihar polls.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist is seen as a party that has lost its ground in West Bengal and elsewhere. What are your plans to make the party viable again?

I have been heading the party for five months now, it is a small time to bring about change. I admit that in the last 10 years, the party’s graph has declined. Our presence in Parliament has also reduced.

But remember one thing, there isn’t an on and off switch that is used for running a party like ours. We have decided to strengthen the pro-people movements (jan-andolan) across the country. We are working hard to reverse the trend.

Why are Left parties, particularly the CPI-M, not visible in the Hindi heartland of the country where there is a high percentage of poverty among farmers and workers?

We have decided to strengthen the organisation of the party and to reach out to a large number of people through different campaigns via different mediums. Our aim is to reach a larger audience with our agenda and policies. The party has also decided to strengthen the unity among Left parties.

Is it possible to unite all the Left parties? Previous attempts to do the same have failed.

In fact, in every state, we are trying to unite our forces and the results so far, are good. The Left parties in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and other states have joined hands to present a united face to take on the communal Bharatiya Janata Party. The Left parties are trying to reach out to the people with an alternative pro-people politics and policies.

What forced or prompted the CPI-M to try to unite the Left parties. Till a decade ago, your party always played the role of Big Brother and distanced itself from other smaller Left parties.

The political situation has changed in the country; all major Left parties have come together. Six Left parties have joined hands to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly polls as a block.

It is a new beginning for us. We are sure to increase the presence of Left parties in the Bihar assembly. The people of Bihar will stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ashwamedh horse’. Like the last phase of Ramayana, when Rama’s Ashwamedh horse was stopped by two brothers, Modi’s Ashwamedh horse will be stopped by two brothers -- farmers and workers in Bihar polls.

Modi’s government has been working with a communal agenda, which is a dangerous threat to the country’s unity and integrity. For the first time, a united Left will provide an alternative to people in the upcoming polls in Bihar.

Last week, the entire Modi government bowed before the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at a meeting and reports coming from the meeting suggest that RSS had instructed the Modi government to implement its agenda.

BJP has been trying hard to polarise the Hindu communal vote in its favour. In the coming days, BJP will try to create hatred and communal tension for its politics in view of upcoming Bihar polls.

Is it true that the Left parties are not attracting the youth and few are joining the CPI-M and other Left parties?

We do not believe in politics of polarisation on the basis of religion, caste or community, nor play with emotional and sentimental issues to cheat any one. In recent years, some parties, particularly the BJP, has played a game to attract the youth. It is a different matter that some are frustrated with the saffron party’s failures to fulfil promises like jobs etc.

Large numbers of youth are joining the Left parties. During our convention in Patna on Monday, I was surrounded by the youth, most of them our cadres. Today, the youth wants healthcare, education and jobs.

The BJP has accused the Left of blocking the development process in the country. What is your take on it?

There is no lack of resources in Bihar or in the country. People have been facing problems as policies are not implemented well. There is no dearth of resources; the problem is that the policies have not been implemented to ensure that benefits reach the people and empower them. We require policies that will improve the life of the citizens. It is a big question that who can implement these policies, we have to reach out to the people with conviction that Left parties are capable enough.

People’s living conditions have strikingly deteriorated after the BJP-led Modi government came to power.