CPI observes 'Constitution Protection Day'; hoists tricolour

The CPI today observed Republic Day as 'Constitution Protection Day' and hoisted the national flag at its offices across the country, a rare practice for the party.
CPI national executive member Binoy Viswam and its Kerala unit secretary Kanam Rajendran said the party hoisted the national flag at all of its offices as part of its campaign to "protect the basic features and fundamental principles of our Constitution which are under threat under the BJP rule".
Accusing the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of "implementing a communal agenda", Viswam alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government had "no regard for values underlined in the Constitution, including the principles of democracy, socialism and secularism".

Rajendran said the CPI had always shown respect to the national flag.
"It is the leaders of the Sangh Parivar who have the history of rejecting the tricolour. They always stand for the saffron flag, not the national flag. That's their history," he alleged.
The CPI leaders told PTI the party,at its recently held national council meeting, had decided to observe January 26 as 'Constitution Protection Day' as part of its fight against the "growing instances of communalisationand saffronisation under the BJP rule".
"We hoisted the national flag at our party offices during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Indian independence. But, this is perhaps for the first time we have organised such a programme in a big way," Rajendran said.