Kerala Assembly elections: Prakash Karat says ‘nothing wrong’ in SDPI backing LDF as tactical move

Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat has said there is “nothing wrong” if the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) supports the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala “as part of its own tactics.”

Speaking at a Meet the Leader programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday, Mr. Karat clarified that the CPI(M)’s “policy is clear in not having any understanding with organisations that are communal or extremist in character.”

He pointed out that a resolution adopted at last year’s Party Congress had “specifically named” Jamaat-e-Islami, Welfare Party of India, and SDPI, and barred the CPI(M) from having any understanding with them. “But in the case of SDPI here (Kerala), if they adopt some tactics of their own, that is for them to decide. It has nothing to do with us. We have not gone out to discuss with them or arrive at any understanding, unlike how the UDF has sought the Welfare Party’s support, including during the local body polls,” Mr. Karat said.

‘Only collective leadership’

On LDF hoardings bearing the image of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan across Kerala, Mr. Karat argued that “there is no personality cult” in the party.

“There are some communist parties outside India which have personality cults, but here we have collective leadership. Therefore, there will be no single individual who will be considered supreme leader. But among the people, certain leaders of the party emerge as pre-eminent figures, like Jyoti Basu in West Bengal. They acquire a certain position or image,” he said.

Mr. Karat said the Centre has postponed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) (amendment) Bill, “probably because of widespread protests”, particularly in Kerala. He alleged that the amendment was being “misused” by the Modi government to target NGOs that do not align with its politics.

“Over the last decade, 70% of the funding to these organisations has been stopped or they have been deregistered and disqualified from receiving foreign funding. The amendment is targeted specifically at minority religious communities and institutions in order to bring them in line or to take control and influence them,” he said.

“Earlier, funds to these organisations were cut off, but now they are threatened with seizure of their assets and properties. It is a violation of the constitutionally granted rights of minority communities to run their own institutions,” he added.

Slams Congress

Mr. Karat said the Congress is “unable” to fight the BJP and the RSS politically and ideologically. “So when Mr. Rahul Gandhi comes here and accuses the CPI(M) of having a deal with the BJP, it is laughable,” he said.