New Delhi, Mar 16: The note on “neo-fascist characteristics” of the BJP government was added in the party’s draft resolution to explain to party members the term neo-fascism which was being used for the first time in a party document, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat said.
In an interview with PTI, Karat said the note also explained that the party has not yet concluded that the Indian State under Narendra Modi is fascist or neo-fascist, but added that if the “neo-fascist characteristics” are not curbed, it may grow into a “full-fledged neo-fascist state or government”.
The CPI(M) had issued a note last month to its state units on the draft political resolution for the upcoming party congress, saying the party does not consider the Modi government or the Indian State as “neo-fascist”, even as there are manifestations of “neo-fascist characteristics”.
The note triggered sharp reactions from the Kerala unit of Congress, which accused the CPI(M) of taking a “soft stance” on the BJP and trying to be in the “good books” of the Sangh Parivar.
The CPI(ML) Liberation said any “downplaying of the fascist danger” at this juncture can only erode the electoral strength and moral authority of the communists. Defending the need to issue the note, Karat said the Central Committee felt that they must explain the term ‘neo-fascism” for the benefit of party members who will be discussing the resolution at the party congress next month in Madurai.
“The first reason for that note was because we used the term neo-fascism. This is the first time we have used it in our party resolutions or documents,” he said.
