The opposition parties tried to put up a fight against the government during the presidential and vice president's election, but the ideological contest had a little impact. Individually, these political parties had done little to change the current political narrative which is in favour of the government. Now, the Communist Party of India has decided to launch a month-long-campaign against the BJP-led NDA government.
The left party has identified four issues to corner the government–Panama leak, non-recovery of non-performing assets, corruption in the BJP government and issues arising out of price rise, note ban and GST.
The left parties in particular are witnessing a shrinking vote bank. They are yet to find an idiom which could catch the fancy of emerging classes, while the BJP is increasingly appropriating aspirations of different classes to present itself as the messiah of the masses.
Even the new modes of communication are ruled by the BJP and those sympathetic to the right wing. Ironically, the CPI is still not on the social media. The CPM does have a verified twitter handle.
Now, in its month-long agitation against the government, the CPI will rely on protests, processions and marches. It aims to create a secular left platform for airing grievances against the government.
Addressing the media persons, CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy said his party has identified four issues. “The Panama papers received by the government contain names of about 500 Indians who have illegal off-shore investment and black money in foreign banks. But no action has been taken. Also their names are kept secret and submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. Who is Modi government trying to protect,” Reddy asked. He also referred to the Sahara papers, Birla dairy and Vyapam scam in which investigations have yielded little results.
The CPI leader said the non-recovery of the NPA was yet another issue where the Modi government was trying to help the corporates. The BJP had promised to bring all the black money from abroad and also give Rs 15 lakhs to each family, but nothing has come out of it, Reddy added.
The party referred to the alleged corruption case of NDA leaders in several states which the CPI would raise during the month-long agitation.
Price rise, problems arising out of GST and note ban are the other issues which will figure during the agitation.
