CPM’s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya says INDIA bloc getting strong, TMC mixing religion with politics

CPM’s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya says INDIA bloc getting strong, TMC mixing religion with politics

CPM Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya has said in Agartala that the INDIA bloc, constituted to defeat the BJP-led NDA ruling at the Centre, is getting strong on the ground and becoming popular among marginalised people.

“The dream of the INDIA alliance is materialising on the ground. In Benaras, a huge number of people gathered during Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra. Working-class people only think about whether they are getting their wages and not about who is Hindu or Muslim,” Bhattacharya, who is president of the All India Lawyers’ Union, said on Saturday.

Bhattacharya accused the Trinamool Congress of mixing religion with politics. “INDIA alliance is basically based on the anti-BJP principle. Anti-BJP means to take an anti-RSS stand. The BJP is directed by the RSS philosophy. There may be many parties who call themselves anti-BJP but follow RSS principles. For example, the Trinamool Congress in Bengal. The basic policy of the RSS is to get religion involved in politics. In Bengal, (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee is doing so. If PM Modi says ‘Ram Mandir’, the TMC talks about building a Jagannath Mandir. It’s the dangerous idea of mixing religion with politics”.

The CPM leader said that several parties that are not part of the anti-BJP alliance would soon be exposed.

In an oblique reference to Nitish Kumar, who quit the INDIA bloc, Bhattacharya said there were individuals like people who sided with the BJP for personal gains.

While accusing the saffron party of playing sectarian politics, he cited the ethnic violence in Manipur.

“The demand to create a Hindu Rashtra is not new. During the freedom movement in 1947, the RSS demanded a Hindu Rashtra and the Muslim League demanded an Islam Rashtra. In our Constitution, it is clearly stated that the right to religion is personal. The BJP has started a unidirectional religious campaign,” he added.

Bhattacharya said Mahatma Gandhi never prioritised religion in political life, though he used to begin his day with “Ramdhun geet”. “He (Gandhi) also used to talk about Ram Rajya, but for him, Ram Rajya meant being sympathetic and affectionate towards people. But they (BJP) started creating division among people through Ram Mandir,” he said.

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS