'What happened to 56-inch govt?' Yechury on Pathankot attack

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today slammed the NDA government over the terror attack at Punjab's Pathankot air base questioning the role of the "56-inch government".
"Till today morning it was announced that all the terrorists were killed and our jawans have lost lives. We were told that the attack was over and today we heard that the attack is still going on. What is this happening? Why are attacks taking place in the country?" Yechury said at a programme here.
"What is happening to the condition of the 56-inch government," he said referring to a speech made by Narendra Modi during the campaign for the Lok Sabha election last year.

"After his Pakistan visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that peace is returning and talks are going on. If all that is true then what is this happening. We want to know the reality. Who is responsible for this?" he questioned.
If peace returns between the two nations then the 'dhandha' (business) of some people on both sides will be stopped, Yechury said.
The CPI(M) leader also criticised the government on the hike in excise duty, asking how could they do it before the budget.

"The money (due to decrease in crude oil prices) which should have gone to the people is now going to the government as a result of this increase in duty," he said.

Alleging that RSS is acting as the spokesperson of the BJP, he said they are trying to replace history with Hindu mythology, philosophy and theology.
"They are also saying about 'Akhand Bharat' which is between Afghanistan to Bangladesh. What does this mean?," he questioned.
He also questioned the role of the media claiming that the fourth estate is working at the behest of those in power.
"It is being used to manufacture consent. The control of media is already happening. Every media house is being controlled by the ruling party," he said, adding that what is printed in papers and shown in TV is what the ruling party wants.

On political violence in West Bengal, he alleged that the Trinamool Congress government is trying to kill the CPI(M) Bengali mouthpiece newspaper 'Ganashakti'.
"It doesn't get advertisements and its hawkers are also attacked," Yechury said.