THE four foundational pillars of our Constitution are facing constant attack under the BJP-led government at the centre. Under prime minister Modi's dispensation, every single foundational pillar of the Constitution has come under attack, CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, said in Guwahati on December 26.

He was addressing a huge gathering to mark the conclusion of the birth centenary celebrations of renowned freedom fighter and one of the founders of the communist movement in Assam, Nandeswar Talukdar (1921-2003). The yearlong birth centenary celebration began on December 26, 2020, and local and district level programmes were organised in a dignified manner throughout the state.

Nandeswar Talukdar started political activities during his student life and fought against British imperialism with courage and conviction. Later, he became a leading light of the freedom struggle and communist movement in Assam. After independence, Talukdar was unrelenting in his struggle for the emancipation of the toiling masses and played a leading role in building the Communist Party of India. After the split of the Communist Party, Talukdar was one of the chief architects of the CPI(M) in Assam and served as the state secretary of the Party from 1982 to 1995. He was a CPI(M) Central Committee member from 1982 till 1997.

The concluding ceremony started with floral tributes being placed at the portrait of Nandeswar Talukdar by Sitaram Yechury and celebrated personalities like Sudakshina Sarma, senior-most Left thinkers Abani Borthakur, Talukdar’s sister Debabala Bharali, CPI(M) state secretary Deben Bhattacharyya, senior leader Uddhab Barman, MLA Manoranjan Talukdar, Congress leader and former MP Bolin Kuli, CPI(ML) leader Naren Borah along with a large number of cross-sections of people.

Speaking at the occasion, Yechury said, "I feel proud and honoured to be in the midst of you for paying tributes to Comrade Nandeswar Talukdar and the dauntless fighters of the national liberation movement who braved British repression and envisioned, during freedom struggle itself, an exploitation free, socialist society after attaining independence.” Yechury recollected his long associations with Nandeswar Talukdar in the Central Committee meetings and Party Congresses of the CPI(M) since the beginning of the 1980s.

Addressing the huge assembly of people as the chief guest and main speaker in the seminar on "The Role of the Communists During Indian Freedom Struggle and Our Times" at the jam-packed auditorium, Yechury said the heroic struggles and tremendous sacrifices of the communists during the freedom movement could not be ignored, underplayed or erased from the history. Braving the worst forms of repression and brutalities, communists were the first to raise the demand for 'complete independence' in the Ahmedabad Session of the Indian National Congress in 1921.

The British rulers framed conspiracy cases against the leadership of the communist movement -- Peshawar, Kanpur and Meerut conspiracies for example. Severe repression notwithstanding, the Party made steady progress in mobilising people for complete independence and for fundamental social change. The Communist Party was at the forefront of the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal struggles like those of Tebhaga, Punnapra Vayalar and the historic Telangana peasants' armed struggle. Apart from achieving political independence, the communists also fought for economic independence and to establish a secular democratic Republic for furthering the cause of the socialist path of development.  The Communist Party, however, continued to face repression even after the country achieved independence. In spite of attacks and repression, the Communist Party carved out a niche in the history of modern India. They were always at the forefront of the struggles for land reforms, abolition of the zamindari system, formation of linguistic states, etc.  Yechury added.

He further said, recognising the Indian reality of rich plurality and diversity, both the Congress and the Communists concluded that the unity of India could be consolidated only when the rich diversity is strengthened and every aspect of linguistic, ethnic, religious and cultural pluralities are respected on the basis of equality. The Congress and Communists had envisioned that independent India should be a secular democratic Republic. However, the Communists stressed the need that the political freedom of the country must be extended to achieve the socio-economic freedom of every individual to consolidate the secular democratic republic. This was possible only under socialism, Yechury asserted.

Now the BJP-led government has constantly been striking at the root of secular democratic Republic. The RSS-BJP combine wanted to transform modern India into a fascistic ‘Hindu Rashtra’. The religious minorities were being targeted in the name of 'cow protection', 'love jihad', 'forcible conversions' and so on and so forth. Inter-faith marriages are being banned in modern India by introducing new legislation in BJP-ruled states like Karnataka.  Yechury also referred to the recent 'dharma sansad' and hate speeches of religious leaders in Haridwar. There was an open call for killing the Muslim minorities in open defiance of the rule of law. Such religious bigotries are being patronised by the ruling dispensation and no actions have yet been taken against the perpetrators and hate mongers. The dalits, adivasis and Christian minorities are also not spared. The government has even blocked foreign funding of the Missionaries of Charities.

We are witnessing the destruction of the Constitution. The Indian Constitution rests on four foundational pillars -- secular democracy, federalism, social justice, and economic sovereignty. The attack on the Indian Constitution is taking place through a corporate-communal nexus. This nexus pursues pro-corporate, pro-big business neo-liberal reforms, looting national assets, intensifying economic exploitation, social injustice and oppression. The central government has been brazenly undermining the federal structure and curtailing the power of the state governments. Over-centralisation of power and an autocratic regime is essential for the success of the fascistic Hindutva project, Yechury said.

The government has been ruining the economic self-reliance and the emergence of the worst form of crony capitalism has become the order of the day. The government paved the way for the loot and plunder of natural resources like oil, coal, minerals, etc. by the corporates and big businesses. The women in general, the dalits and adivasi women in particular are made the targets of attacks, gang rapes, killings, etc.

Yechury also lamented the role of the judiciary on certain counts. Citing a few examples, he said that the undue delay in taking up the hearings on the petitions against abrogation of Article 370, Citizenship (Amendment) Act, electoral bonds, etc. have belittled the image of the judiciary and its independent functioning. In fact, “the independence of constitutional bodies like Parliament, judiciary, election commission and the CBI is being destroyed,” he added. Yechury said that the sedition law and UAPA have been used against those who are opposing the BJP or the government policies.

Yechury called upon the audience to save the country by ousting the BJP from power. Comrade Nandeswar Talukdar and his compatriots overthrew the British regime. Now we, the people of free India, would have to build up united and mightier struggles and unseat the BJP from power and isolate them from our democratic polity. Yechury concluded his speech by saying "the recent victory of the kisan struggles which forced the arrogant Modi government to withdraw anti-farmer laws had shown the path of united struggles ahead".

The meeting was chaired by CPI(M) leader and chairman of the ‘Nandewar Talukdar birth centenary celebration committee’, Hemen Das. Isfaqur Rahman, general secretary of the celebration committee, explained the objective of the meeting. 

Speaking at the event, renowned scholar and social scientist, Hiren Gohain launched a scathing attack on the BJP government. Gohain said all the products produced in the name of 'made in India' are now controlled by foreign capital. According to Gohain, foreign capitalists, as well as Indian capitalist groups like Adani and Ambani, have usurped the right to food, health and other living rights of the people of the country. “In order to survive as a human being, we have to fight against the misrule of the BJP regime. There is no alternative to it.” He alleged that the Modi government is trying to establish a united Hindu Rashtra by wiping out Assam’s language and culture in the name of 'one nation, one language, one culture', etc. “We will not be mistaken in their rhetoric. I know we have the power to unite. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Assamese, Bengalis, ethnic groups must be united. Then we will be able to defeat fascistic forces represented by the RSS-BJP,” Gohain added. Gohain alleged that the ruling party is trying to distort history and show the Muslims as enemies of the nation. The ruling party has been spreading anti-Muslim propaganda by attacking the masses, peasants and workers to protect Hindu 'civilization'.

Cultural celebrity Sudakshina Sarma paid homage to Nandeswar Talukdar and enthralled the audience by presenting a revolutionary song. Nonagenarian literary figure and Sahitya Academy awardee, Nirupama Borgohain, expressed regret for her inability to attend the function due to ill health and sent a written message of greetings. Releasing a book published in memory of Nandeswar Talukdar, eminent thinker Abani Borthakur recalled his long association with Talukdar. An attractive photo exhibition was also organised outside the auditorium to mark the centenary celebration.