LEADERS of the CPI(M), CPI and RPI gave a call for coming together of the Lal and Neel flags and unity of dalits, adivasis, Muslims and other fighting forces to defeat communal forces, prevent the BJP from coming to power in 2019 and fight unitedly for the rights of dalits.  Addressing a meeting at Indira Park in Hyderabad organised by Dalita Hakkula Sadhana Sabha (DHSS) on January 22, the leaders expressed serious concern on the growing attacks on dalits, adivasis and Muslims in the country under the dispensation of the Modi government.  Prakash Ambedkar, president of the Republican Party of India and grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar, strongly condemned the stand of the RSS against reservations and challenged whether the BJP government had courage to abolish reservations, despite having majority in the parliament.  He pointed out that the RSS has been opposing reservations from the time of the framing of Indian constitution. Expressing confidence that by coming together dalits, adivasis, minorities and other fighting forces would come to power, Ambedkar gave a call for defeating the BJP in the elections in 2019. He lashed out at the Modi government for distributing money of the poor to the rich, instead of mobilising money from the rich and distributing it to the poor.  Ambedkar challenged RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for a debate on cultural nationalism. Opposing the practice of appointing archaks in temples on the basis of caste, he demanded the government to bring about a special enactment for appointing archaks. He criticised the government of Telangana for diverting the funds under sub-plans of SCs and STs for projects and other purposes. Pointing out that though dalits, adivasis and minorities constitute the majority in Telangana, they could not adore the seat of chief minister, Ambedkar wished that they should work together and come to power in the elections in 2019 in the state.

Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the CPI(M), gave a call for building a new India by strengthening the fight against  the communal government. Referring to the tall talk of Modi and leaders of the RSS that they had undertaken aswamedha yagam and that nobody could stop their running white horse, Yechury asserted that the twins of Lal and Neel flags would stop the horse and blast the illusions of the communal forces. Asserting that formation of this communal government again in 2019 would be stopped, he said that it is certain that the people would say talaq to the BJP for the third time in the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh, as they had done in the case of Delhi and Bihar earlier.  Lashing out at the RSS for opposing reservations, Yechury pointed out that despite implementation of reservations, in the group one and group two posts, the appointment of dalits was not more than five percent. Yechury gave a call for fighting against the growing attacks on dalits and Muslims that have been going on in the name of cow protection. Reiterating that in the name of demonetisation, Modi had imposed financial emergency and ruined the lives of daily wage earners and other poor people, Yechury made it clear that after demonetisation, contrary to the claims of the Modi government, black money was not eliminated, but corruption and terrorism increased further, besides protecting corporate houses which refused to pay dues of loans to banks and financial institutions on a large scale.  Pointing out that demonetisation had ruined the economy, Sitaram warned that the same fate that had befallen on Indira Gandhi post-emergency in the seventies was in store for Modi. Criticising that the report on suicide of Rohith Vemula was not being made public even under the right to information act, Yechury said it showed the kind of conspiracy behind the attempts to cover up facts in this case.

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, general secretary of the CPI, expressed concern over the growing attacks on dalits and pointed out that there has been direct link between the attacks on dalits and manuvad. Explaining various instances of attacks on dalits, adivasis and Muslims in the country by the forces of Sangh Parivar, he stressed on the need for continuing and strengthening the fight against the communal forces. Pointing out the failure of the Modi government in curbing black money and corruption through demonetisation, Sudhakar Reddy said that the money saved by the people has been deposited in the banks, while the money looted by the corporate houses continued to remain with them. D Raja, secretary of the national council of the CPI, said that the fight for equality and social justice would continue both in the parliament and outside. Former chief secretary of the government of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, K Madhava Rao, presided over the meeting. Leaders of various parties and mass organisations G Nagayya, G Ramulu, B Venkat (CPI(M), K Bhaskar (Telangana state president of KVPS), K Narayana, Chada Venkat Reddy, G Mallesh, E Narsimha, Aziz Pasha (CPI), G Jhansi (Dalit Stree Sakthi) and others participated in the meeting.