There is need to tackle Hindutva: Prakash Karat

Alappuzha (Kerala), Feb 20 (IANS) There is a need to tackle two forces - big business houses and Hindutva - in the country, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said Friday while attacking the Narendra Modi government.

Karat said big business houses and corporates who are getting numerous benefits and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is pushing forward its communal agenda under the nine-month-old Modi government should be tackled.

He was speaking here at the inauguration of the 21st Kerala Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) party conference, which will continue for four days.

"To appease the corporates, the Modi government has gone ahead by passing three ordinances, it includes increasing the FDI in the insurance sector. For the first time, the coal mining is going to be opened for the private sector. The Land Acquisition Act, 2013 is going to be amended, which will be detrimental for farmers and the beneficiaries would be the big business houses," he said.

Attacking the Modi government, Karat said the central government has become a joint enterprise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS.

"You must have read about the formation of a coordination committee, set up by the BJP and the RSS to run the country. They have formed six groups which will advise the government in areas such as education, security, economy, defence," said Karat.

The Hindutva forces have organised programmes like 'Ghar Wapsi and Love Jihad'.

"To fight such forces, there has to be a united move from the secular and democratic forces. The CPI-M and the Left have a role to play here. In West Bengal, we have a tough time. We should broaden the Left unity across the country," said Karat.

These issues would be taken up by the party before a meeting to be held in Visakhapatnam in April.

The four-day conference will end Tuesday.