Opinion View from the left

“In the secular, democratic Indian republic, such violence should never find place in the first instance. Instead of saying so, the PM’s call for a moratorium simply suggested his desire for remaining the PM for a decade should not be marred by communal disturbances. After this, however, communal violence may well be encouraged and patronised in order to permit the RSS/ BJP to return to take over the reins at the Centre, once again,” an editorial in the latest issue says.

The editorial goes on to say the PM’s speech was “devoid of any vision” and that he “spoke of the virtues of cleanliness and sanitation, of need to build separate toilets for girls”, called on parents to take responsibility for their sons, “as though this would contain or control such abominable gender crimes… But this does not constitute the required vision… expected to be articulated by the PM on Independence Day.” It also claims the announcement of new schemes by the PM seemed “insincere”.

“In this Independence Day address to the nation, the PM has revealed that he continues to suffer from the hangover of his election speeches and has not yet become accustomed to being the prime minister of India. He needs to be politely told that the time for talking is over. As the prime minister heading the government of India, the time has already begun for him to walk the talk,” the editorial concludes.

By-poll results

Talking about the by-polls held in Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, and earlier in Uttarakhand, the CPI(ML)’s ML Update says the results have “come as a veritable blow to the BJP’s political ambitions revolving around the Modi government at the Centre… viewed together, the by-polls have definitely sent out an unmistakable early warning to the Modi government…”

“Another round of by-polls is to be held next month in UP and Gujarat before we go for the next big series of assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. Assembly elections in Bihar are also only little more than a year away. Viewed in this context, the by-poll results clearly mark an early warning against the BJP government at the Centre and the BJP’s attempt to enforce its corporate-communal agenda and its unilateral political domination over large parts of the country,” the editorial adds. It concludes that the by-poll results have also sent out a “message of encouragement for all those who are fighting against the BJP’s authoritarian mode of governance and corporate-communal agenda.”

Shift to the right

Also focussing on PM Modi’s maiden Independence Day speech, the CPI’s NewAge says there was nothing “that could be really called first” in the speech.

“Narendra Modi’s speech from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort did not touch the two crucial issues of price rise and corruption, the two issues that were [the] main plank of his poll campaign: UPA II had paid heavily for its failure to tackle the problems that haunt the commonman most. Prices of all essential commodities, including vegetables and grains are skyrocketing,” the editorial says. The editorial goes on to state the PM “in his Independence Day address also shamelessly hinted that his government is committed to completion of the remaining task of implementing the policies of neo-liberalism that has brought about disaster, not only in this country but globally.”

“A rightward shift will not be confined to the economy, it will reflect in all spheres. Though the prime minister talked about a ten year moratorium on communal and caste conflicts, his die-hard supporters are bent on raising divisive issues… In such a situation, it has become imperative that the people are warned of coming dangers and their consciousness is roused against various rightward moves of the new government. A mass awakening campaign using all means available needs to be launched without any further delay,” it concludes.

Compiled by Ruhi Tewari