Modi dangerous combination of Indira, Narasimha and Vajpayee: Yechury

He added: “He is an autocrat, see how he has introduced nine ordinances in six months, bringing in multinationals and working for their interests. At the same time, he is creating social tension by sponsoring a campaign for a Hindu rashtra. The trimurthi can become a trident and pierce through the heart of India.”

Yechury said that while advocates for Hindutva were working on religious conversion, Swami Vivekananda never encouraged this. Quoting from Vivekanand’s address at the Chicago parliament of religion — Swamiji had said all religions could improve and prosper by not attacking others but by imbibing the main features of each other — Yechury said the teachings were relevant even today.

“The present day preachers of Hindutva should remember what Swamiji said — he wanted to see an India whose head would be Vedantic and the body Islamic. If the majority of the population indulges in communalism, it will trigger minority communalism and the body politic will be at stake,’’ the CPM leader said.

Mohammad Salim, CPM MP from Raigunj, while praising Vivekananda for his foresight and scientific thoughts, said at present, myths were being interpreted as history while history was being projected as myth. “Our prime minister said the implantation of an elephant trunk on the torso of Ganesha bears testimony to the progress India made in the field of plastic surgery in ancient times. Now, is there any scientific basis behind the assertion? How can the prime minister of a country make such statements?’’ Salim asked.

To commemorate Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, the DYFI will embark on an awareness campaign against the perils of communalism across the state, said Sayandev Mitra, president of the state unit of the organisation.