CPI terms BJP a fascist force, blames Cong. for INDIA bloc’s setback

Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam on Saturday (July 5) said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a fascist force that drew ideological inspiration from Mussolini and Hitler.

Inaugurating the delegates’ meeting of the CPI district conference here, he said the party did not doubt the BJP’s fascist nature, saying that both the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) openly followed fascist ideals.

“Those who think that the BJP is semi-fascist or neo-fascist are mistaken. The RSS and the BJP follow the fascist path carved out by Hitler and Mussolini,” Mr. Viswam said.

Citing the RSS publication Vichara Dhara, Mr. Viswam claimed that the organisation identified Muslims, Christians, and Communists as its primary enemies. “The central task before Indian political parties today is to resist fascism, and the CPI will lead efforts to unite all democratic forces against it,” he said.

He came down on Congress for its “failure” to uphold the objectives of the INDIA alliance. “The Congress remains preoccupied with internal matters and lacks the political vision necessary to defeat the BJP. This shortcoming stalled the progress of the alliance,” he said.

Mr. Viswam dismissed the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme as hollow rhetoric, alleging that the call for self-reliance was undermined by a push for foreign direct investment. “They [the Centre] are handing over the country’s economic sovereignty to foreign players while diverting public attention through religious polarisation,” he observed.

Warning against rising religious fanaticism, Mr. Viswam said, “Though religion is a reality in India, fanaticism is unacceptable. When combined with fascist politics, even justice and faith are destroyed.” On internal party discipline, Mr. Viswam stressed that criticism should be confined within the party and not aired on social media.

Senior CPI leader K.V. Gangadharan hoisted the party flag. C.P. Shaijan, P. Santhosh Kumar, MP, K.P. Rajendran, and E. Chandrasekharan were present.