Activist condemns BJP’s communal agenda

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7

“Various democratic and progressive forces should join hands to protect already shrunken democratic space in India, which is now virtually endangered due to incumbent dispensation of BJP led NDA regime that is eager to enforce its Hindutva agenda over the entire nation.” This was stated by by noted Delhi-based human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, who was in city to speak at the seminar organised by the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Vichar Manch in the memory of martyrs Kartar Singh Sarbaha, Ashfaq-ul-lah and Ram Prasad Bismil at Punjabi Bhawan.

Speaking on the occasion, Navlakha said, “The BJP ruled government is creating an atmosphere of ‘majoritarian triumphalism’ and implementing Hindutva agenda, which will leave no space for expression of numerous diverse sections of the Indian society.”

“This eagerness to prove that everybody living in the country is Hindu will ultimately devastate the sentiment of the communal harmony in the country,” he noted, adding that with incidents such as Trilokpuri and Muzaffarnagar riots, the BJP was keen to polarize the society on communal lines.

He said efforts to introduce Sanskrit in syllabus of Kendriya Vidyalayas, distortion of scientific and historical facts, glorification of social practices of ancient Indian societies and slogans like ‘Love Jihad’ were part of the grand communal strategy of Hindutva forces, including the BJP.

Patron of the Manch Prof Jagmohan Singh said all progressive and democratic forces had to defeat the organised assault of fascist forces.

In resolutions introduced by Prof AK Maleri, the audience criticised the arrest of student leader Rajinder Singh of the Punjab Students Union and also demanded the call back of the Damage of Public and Private Property (Prevention) Act.