CPM Leader M A Baby Slams FCRA Amendment as Attack on Minorities and Civil Rights
In a fiery address at a 'meet the leader' event in Kochi on Wednesday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M A Baby launched a scathing critique of the Union government's proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Baby asserted that the legislation is designed not merely to regulate foreign funding but to systematically target religious minorities, civil rights organizations, and human rights groups across India.
Allegations of Selective Application and Historical Parallels
"This amendment grants the central government the power to take over the assets of various non-governmental organizations engaged in critical activities like running old age homes, educational programs, and charitable work," Baby declared. "However, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which organizes communal riots and violence, is being deliberately excluded from the law's purview."
Drawing historical parallels, Baby recalled that during the Emergency, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi introduced the original FCRA with political motives and began acting with hostility. "Even then, RSS was excluded from the law's purview," he noted. "When the ban on RSS imposed after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination was lifted, the justification was that RSS was a cultural organization. Indira Gandhi used the same justification to keep them outside FCRA's scope."
Accusations of Congress-BJP Collusion and Ideological Blurring
Baby further alleged a long-standing political deal between the Congress and RSS, which he claimed was initiated during Indira Gandhi's time and solidified when Rajiv Gandhi, as Prime Minister, facilitated the foundation stone laying of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "The deal extended to the demolition of Babri Masjid during Narasimha Rao's tenure as Prime Minister," Baby stated. "Subsequently, the boundary between Congress and BJP has blurred entirely, making it effortless for any Congress member to join the BJP today."
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that Kerala is not leftist, Baby retorted that this stems from a lack of understanding. "Leftists are those who work from a humanistic perspective to bring about changes in economic and social conditions," he explained. "The CPM and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will never cooperate with those who hold communal stances or employ such operational styles."
He clarified that while such individuals may announce decisions based on their conclusions, the CPM or LDF will not attempt to reach an understanding by engaging with them. "Here, it is the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) that have openly allied with religious nationalists and communal forces," Baby emphasized.
Kerala Chief Minister Demands Immediate Withdrawal of FCRA Bill
Echoing Baby's concerns, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking in Haripad, demanded that the Centre must immediately withdraw the FCRA Amendment Bill. "Those who disguise themselves to create division in society may even reach the 'aramana' (government residence) with cakes," Vijayan warned. "Such people, who come seeking votes, need to be identified and watched closely, as their visits are driven by hidden agendas."
Vijayan cautioned that the BJP will arrive with promises in various disguises, and believing them will make it impossible to live in Kerala as before. "Even if audit details are provided, they will seize assets of organizations in India, which will disproportionately affect minority groups," he asserted. "Such concerns have been shared by Christian leaders. The Centre, which should unite people, is adopting a hostile approach towards minorities. The politics of the BJP, which heads the Centre, is implementing RSS-approved policies."
Broader Political Context and Electoral Promises
Baby also touched upon the broader political landscape, mentioning that the Congress and BJP are competing to make false promises to the public through their election manifestos. This critique underscores the CPM's positioning as a distinct alternative to both national parties, particularly in Kerala where it leads the ruling LDF government.
The statements from both Baby and Vijayan highlight the escalating political tensions in Kerala regarding central policies, with the FCRA amendment becoming a focal point of contention. The allegations of targeting minorities and sparing the RSS are likely to intensify debates around secularism, federalism, and the role of civil society in India's democracy.
