CPM attacks PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath for ‘crude Muslim-baiting’ ahead of assembly polls

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has attacked PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for “crude Muslim-baiting” and for using “twin-engine of communal and caste mobilization” to win elections.

Referring to Modi’s latest speech in Aligarh during the foundation laying ceremony of Raja Mahendra Singh State University, CPM in the latest issue of the “Peoples Democracy” said that the underlying theme of the Modi’s speech was a “combination of rank communal and caste appeal.”

Modi in his speech heaped praise on the Yogi government. “Today Uttar Pradesh is becoming a great example of a double engine government's double profit,” he said.

“With the Uttar Pradesh assembly election drawing nearer, the BJP, under Modi and Adityanath’s leadership, have embarked on the twin engine of communal and caste mobilisation. Narendra Modi’s speech must be seen in the background of the farmers’ struggle in west Uttar Pradesh. He did not fail to remind the audience of a time four to five years ago when families used to live in fear in their homes,” reads the editorial published in the Peoples Democracy.

Attacking Modi for reducing Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh into a Jat leader even though he is known for forming a government in exile in Afghanistan, CPM asserted that Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was a revolutionary.

“His socialist and secular outlook had nothing to do with sectarian religious or caste identity. But then the BJP is desperate to earn some goodwill among the Jats when the whole Jat peasant community is up-in-arms against the farm laws,” stated the CPM mouthpiece.

CPM attacked UP CM Yogi Adityanath for his “Abba Jaan” remark. Speaking in Kushinagar, Yogi had said, “Is everybody getting their share of food rations? … Before 2017, those who called their father abba jaan would monopolize it”.

“This crude Muslim-baiting is utterly false. All data in Uttar Pradesh go to show that Muslims are among the most deprived in the matter of delivery of essential services,” emphasized the CPM.

“While isolating and demonizing the Muslims, both the Uttar Pradesh state government and the central government wax eloquent about how they are working for development for all (sabka vikas) and all sections of people are beneficiaries of the government’s welfare schemes…A government scheme of providing foodgrains is appropriated by the ruling party to glorify the leader. With the feudal mindset of the BJP, the people of India are seen as only beneficiaries of government largesse; they are not to be treated as citizens with equal rights,” said CPM.