THERE is an ongoing, multi-pronged attack on the people of the country ever since the NDA government led by Narendra Modi has assumed office at the centre said Padma Shree award winner and prominent anti-communalism activist Teesta Setalvad. She warned that as there is real possibility of people getting involved in resistance movements, the Hindutva forces are planning to lit communal fires in order to divide them and divert them from resistance. Setalvad made this statement while delivering veteran Communist leader P Sundarayya memorial lecture in Hyderabad on 21st May. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B V Raghavulu presided over the meeting that was held in Sundarayya Vignana Kendram. CPI(M) Telangana state secretary Thammineni Veerabhadram and SVK Trust secretary S Vinay Kumar were present. Speaking on the topic “ Human Rights in Current Political-Social Situation”, Setalvad lambasted the policies and decisions of NDA government, effectively exposing the anti-labour, anti-farmer and anti-people nature of these measures. She charged the Modi government of not having any belief in the fundamental tenets of our Constitution. This government totally rejects the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution. She cited how the government was hitting the poorest of the poor by its cuts in funding for MGNREGA. The government is also trying to retrogradely amend the Child Labour Prohibition Act allowing employment of child labour. The government has launched a frontal attack on the farmers of the country through its Land Ordinance. She termed as dangerous the Modi government’s preference for ruling by ordinances. Its attempts to dilute Right to Information, Right to Education and Food Security Act is nothing but an assault on the gains achieved by people through decades of struggle. Setalvad lamented that as the entire media is largely controlled by corporates that have vested interests in mining, power and other key sectors, the actual reality of these policies is not being conveyed to the people. The class bias of the media is evident from the fact that it remains silent over the fact of government giving away Rs 5.71 lakh crore of public money to private corporates in the name of various incentives but raises a furore over the Rs 36,000 crore subsidy given to the poor under MGNREGA. She also criticised the way the corporate media conducted itself in Nepal while covering the earthquake. Its eagerness to portray Modi government’s relief effort was appalling and hurt the feelings of Nepalese, she said. Teesta Setalvad also condemned the remarks against minorities being made by elected representatives of BJP who assumed office thanks to Ambedkar’s Constitution. She deplored the silence of Parliament on the remarks made by Sakshi Maharaj, Giriraj Singh etc. She saw the introduction of insurance schemes by Modi government as an effort to fool the people. She called upon the Left parties and other sections to make a study of the actual benefits of such schemes and put before the people. The formation of Niti Ayog in place of Planning Commission is part of the design to cut the funds to dalits, tribals and minorities. She said the RSS and Hindutva forces are being roped in to rewrite history in textbooks. The Muslim names of Delhi roads are being silently erased. That is why this Modi government is not just a government but a particular system of administration. Raghavulu in his remarks condemned the efforts of Modi government to frame Teesta Setalvad in false case because she is a champion fighter against communal forces and strong proponent of democratic rights. He lauded her for remaining steadfast in the fight despite these attempts. Thammineni in his speech said that the Telangana unit of the CPI(M is engaged in promoting an alternate culture even while launching struggles for provision of reservations in the private sector and for a BC sub plan. Prominent political analyst Telakapally Ravi translated the speech of Teesta Setalvad. (INN)