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Shifting from its stance of protesting against all political outfits involved in the electoral process due to the “emergent political crisis” in the country, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) have decided to support all anti-BJP/RSS parties across the country to wage war against “religious fascism and modern imperialism”.

Talking to the TOI, Sanket, spokesperson of the Maoists’ Eastern Regional Bureau, said the decision to support all anti-BJP/RSS parties was taken after a lot of brainstorming within the outfit. “As communists, we have always been against the present form of electoral politics. However, the current crisis is far bigger and we have to address the biggest enemy of communism,” he said. Asked if the Maoists will support anti-BJP political outfits in the elections as well, Sanket clarified the points on which they are trying to bring all socialist, secular and pro-people forces on one platform.

“There has been a series of attacks on people’s freedom during the BJP government and during the first three months of Modi 2.0 rule. As many as 38 bills were passed by Parliament during the budget session and most of them were aimed at curtailing people’s rights and giving more opportunity to corporates and foreign companies to plunder our resources,” he said, naming Special Economic Zone Amendment Bill, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, introduction of Code on Wages, Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare by repealing the earlier laws on protection of labour rights, UAPA Amendment Bill, NIA Amendment Bill among many others.

Sanket said the “BJP-RSS government” is aware about the rising dissent among the masses because their anti-people policies have led to an unprecedented economic slowdown, massive job cuts and denial of human rights to religious minorities and they amended “draconian” laws like UAPA and NIA to use it against those who raise their voice against the regime. “Human rights activists and those working for tribals and dalits are being pushed behind the bars, their property is being attached. Stan Swamy in Jharkhand is one example,” Sanket said.

Citing examples of people dissenting against the government in Khunti being charged with sedition for demanding their “legitimate and constitutional rights” and incidents of mob lynching by “goons” of the saffron brigade, the ERB asked BJP’s political opponents if they feel safe in the current scheme of affairs. “We can clearly observe that even the opposition parties are scared of raising their voice against the oppressive tactics of the fascist government. History has it that only communists have dared to take on such fascist dictators head on,” Sanket added.

Expressing confidence that the political opponents who have lost voice inside and outside Parliament and the assembly will respond positively to their call, the ERB asked all anti-BJP outfits to take note of the condition of politicians in Kashmir. “The leaders there were elected representatives, but when the RSS-backed Modi-Shah government decided to unleash terror in Kashmir to abrogate the justified rights of people, they were pushed behind bars and continue to be kept in confinement. It is only the communists who are still daring to challenge the opression and subversion of real democracy,” Sanket said.

Elaborating on the chance of any allignment with political outfits in electoral politics, the ERB said they can settle their personal scores once the “biggest enemy of the people is cut to size”. Sanket said, “As of now, those who work for the common masses must realise the imminent threat and take a positive decision to our call for working together,” Sanket said.

The Maoists had called upon all anti-BJP political forces to come together way back in September. The change in stance reflects in the poll boycott call issued by the ERB on October 13 in which they have tried to clarify their stand. “The opposition leaders have become inactive and silent fearing the onslaught of ruling class which is why they are going far from the people. These leaders think that fascism is attacking Maoists so they should sit calm but when fascism started attacking religious minorities they again kept mum, they remained quiet when labourers rights were attacked resulting in their rejection by masses,” the ERB statement reads. In the same note ERB has appealed to the anti-BJP political parties to realize the threat and buckle up. “Set aside your greed for power and chair in this election—decide the role of each one of us against the fascist forces and start working in favour of people. Day is not far when we together can defeat all such fascist forces,” the ERB has said.

