CPI-M alleges 'unadulterated authoritarian rule'

The Narendra Modi government is increasingly displaying "unadulterated authoritarian rule", says the Communist Party of India (CPI-M).

"Under Modi rule, a miasma of toxic nationalism, branding of dissent as anti-national, suppression of Dalits and Muslims to fulfil the Hindutva agenda, heavy handed intervention of the State in universities and the brazen use of police powers to suppress political opposition, has emerged," said an editorial in the party organ "People's Democracy".

"This is nothing but unadulterated authoritarian rule."

The editorial referred to the detention by police of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Deputy Manish Sisodia and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when they visited a hospital after an ex-soldier committed suicide.

"The ordinary activities of political leaders have become an affront to the government and a violation of law and order," he said.

The editorial also referred to the gunning down of eight undertrial prisoners, who were suspected members of the Students Islamic Movement of India and who escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail.

"For the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, branding someone as a terrorist is enough to eliminate them in an extra judicial fashion.

"The approach of the Modi government is no different. Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju warned against questioning the authorities and the police stating that it goes against our 'culture'."

The editorial blasted the police for not even questioning for days those who attacked a JNU student, Najeeb Ahmad, who has since gone missing.

And police in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh filed a false case of murder against academics who exposed the atrocities against innocent adivasis by the police and their henchmen.

Pointing out how the government had to withdraw a 24-hour ban on NDTV India channel, it said the government seems unfazed and sees nothing wrong in ordering such media blackouts in the name of national security.

--IANS

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