“LEFT is the only real alternative to communal and fascistic BJP in India”, stressed Kodiyeri Balakrishnan while addressing a hall meeting jam-packed with Party members and sympathisers hailing from Kerala and residing in Mumbai, on June 25, 2017, at AdarshaVidhyalaya in Mumbai.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Polit Bureau member and Kerala state secretary of CPI(M) was present on the invitation of Mumbai district committee of CPI(M) to address this public meeting.           

Mumbai district committee of CPI(M) also arranged an exhibition with photographs and captions regarding the murderous campaign unleashed by the Sangh Parivar in Kerala in recent times and over last several decades. This exhibition was inaugurated for public view by K R Raghu, Mumbai district committee member of the Party.

Addressing the meeting, Balakrishnan said neo-liberal policies, which Congress-led governments implemented ruthlessly, pushed the people into misery and provided a fertile ground for the communal forces. Further, Congress governments did not bother to act against poisonous and violent activities of the RSS and its affiliates. Taking advantage of this situation and with enormous money provided by big business houses at its disposal, BJP came to power at the centre and in several states. Modi government is pursuing the same neo-liberal policies with more zeal, crushing the livelihood of peasantry and poorer working sections of the urban and rural people. This is accompanied by murderous assaults on minority and dalit communities. In the past, Lord Ram was used as a political tool to bring about polarisation in the society along religious lines. ‘Holy cow’ is being invoked now for this purpose. Defending the unity of the people in the face of majoritarian communal assault by strengthening secular values among all people and fighting the neo-liberal economic offensive, are inseparable tasks. The Left is waging this ideological and political battle valiantly. In Kerala, the work of LDF government is along the lines of fighting neo-liberal dogmas and defending the unity of the people. Whereas the centre is on the path of reckless privatisation of public assets, LDF government in Kerala is painstakingly protecting and strengthening public sector. The centre is abdicating all social welfare responsibilities, but LDF government is expanding the scope of all social welfare programmes, providing homes to all the families, ensuring protection of dalits, minorities, women, migrant workers and marginalised sections. LDF government is implementing ambitious projects for strengthening public health system, public education and protecting the environment. The state of Kerala is providing the real alternative in matters of governance and development to other states ruled by the BJP. This is the reason behind aggravation of murderous campaign of Sangh Parivar in recent times after the LDF government came to power in Kerala.

While concluding, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan expressed confidence that the people of Kerala shall never allow the nefarious designs of the Sangh Parivar to succeed in Kerala and appealed to all present in the hall to also work tirelessly for this purpose in Mumbai.

The public meeting was presided over by Mahendra Singh, Central Committee member of the CPI(M) and the introductory welcome speech was delivered by Dr S K Rege, Mumbai district secretary.