Modi still in pre-election phase, says CPI

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday rebuked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not coming out of his 'pre-election phase' and ignoring the development of the country.

"Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) focussed on issues like Hindutva, love jihad and screening of chief of India's right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat's speech on the state television channel, Doordarshan," Yechury said while addressing a news briefing.

Yechury said there was no concentration on development since PM Modi government came to power.

"Looking at the present situation of the country today, I feel that no one has informed the Prime Minister that the elections are over. The way he is addressing people, it seems as if he is still in the mood of winning people to get votes. But development is not moving forward," he said.

There have been strong allegations against the BJP being run by its parent, RSS, which provides the backbone to the BJP and other Hindu groups in the country. Its members are known for their austerity and a life-long commitment to building a militarily strong and economically prosperous India.

In August, several members of the RSS were named to positions within the BJP, signaling a more overt role for the party's ideological parent that usually operates in the shadows.

Critics, however, say the Hindutva ideology masks a deep-seated hostility to India's 160 million Muslims and the group is a threat to the country's secular foundations.

Yechury said that the communist parties were getting together and launching a nationwide campaign.

"Between December 8 and 14, we plan to take mass movements together from various regions and start a nationwide campaign," he added.

Earlier this month, for the first time, six Indian Left parties held a meeting in New Delhi to unite and evolve a joint action plan against the BJP.

A national-level convention is scheduled to be held after the campaign in December.