Left attacks Modi for 'talking,walking in opposite direction'

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Aug 21 2014 | 4:10 PM IST
Left parties today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "talking and walking in opposite direction", saying he continued to suffer from the "hangover" of his election speeches and went on with his rhetoric.
In editorials appearing in the forthcoming issues of CPI (M) organ 'People's Democracy' and CPI's 'New Age', the parties also spoke of the "dangerous" trend in escalation of communal polarisation, saying even though Modi spoke of a ten year moratorium on communal and caste conflicts, "his die-hard supporters are bent upon raising all divisive issues".
In his editorial, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury criticised Modi for announcing policies on FDI in defence and insurance sectors while announcing schemes like the 'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana', leading the MPs with little choice.
"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," Yechury said.
While Modi continued with "the rhetoric of talking, walking in the opposite direction, the most diabolic and dangerous walk of the worst form of vote bank politics, of communal polarisation, has begun," the CPI(M) leader said.
Observing that Modi's speech was made from the Red Fort - a symbol of the freedom struggle, he said it was also "the symbol of the Mughal Empire, built by whom the RSS calls as 'Babar ke aulad'. "The RSS-BJP has all along and even today continued to use the so-called liberation from 'Babar ke aulad' as the true freedom of our country."
In the first war of Independence in 1857, the valiant Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai, a devout Hindu, and leaders like Tantia Tope had proclaimed Mughal emperor Bahadurshah Zafar as the sovereign of India, independent from the British. "Ironically, Bahadurshah Zafar was also a 'Babar ke aulad'!"
The editorial in the CPI publication said, "A right-ward shift will not just be confined to the economy, it will reflect in all spheres. Though the PM talked about a ten-year moratorium on communal and caste conflicts, his die-hard supporters are bent upon raising all divisive issues."
"Apart from communal tensions, sentiments are being worked up to promote communalisation of politics, education, culture and administration.
"All sorts of divisive and provocative demands and issues are being raised by various outfits of Sangh Parivar and Narendra Modi has failed to even mildly rebuke such outbursts," it claimed.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 21 2014 | 4:10 PM IST

Next Story