CPI(M) will not share dais with Mamata, says Yechury

CPI(M) would t share dais with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee though she was also fighting against CAA, NRC and NPR because she h been 'butchering' democracy in state, party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Friday.

Talking to reporters here, he alleged CPI(M) lost more than 278 of its comres while thousands h been framed with false charges and issued n-bailable warrants in Bengal. While TMC won 22 of 42 Lok Sabha seats, BJP came second bagging 18 seats and Left front drew a blank in general elections.

Yechury was replying to a question wher CPI(M) will share dais with Trinamool Congress chief in ongoing fight against Narendra Modi government over Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

"Sharing dais (with Mamata) is t issue. Because in Bengal, she and her party have been primarily responsible for butchery of democracy. In last Parliament elections, it was people's anger against Banerjee which gave BJP benefit. She continues murderous attacks (on CPI-M workers)," Yechury alleged.

ting that chief ministers of 13 states have opposed contentious NRC and two of m (Kerala and West Bengal) have stayed NPR process in ir states, he appealed to ors also to stop updation of population register.

"On that issue re is problem. Coming toger in Bengal (with TMC) will have different implications for all or struggles that are going on," he said in apparent reference to Left parties' fight against Mamata Banerjee government.

"But on this issue (NPR, NRC) she seems to be on same side. That is okay," Yechury said.

He said it was essential that all secular forces to come toger at this hour and appealed to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, whose party TRS voted against CAA, to dissociate with NPR. On RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwats comments that 130 crore

Indians were Hindus for Sangh, Yechury said How can it be. It is t possible if y define Hindus as a religion. meaning of that statement is that all n-Hindus are t Indians. That is interpretation. Orwise what is meaning of that statement?

Earlier, in an interaction with students of Osmania University here CPI-M leer alleged CAA, NPR and NRC were aimed at making India a fascist country and hence people should reject m. This is t Hindu-Muslim issue. struggle is to save democracy, he claimed. Replying to a query, he said he would t suggest people to give wrong information when enumerators come for NPR.

He said ditional details sought in NPR may authorise officials to keep any persons name under D category (doubtful) if re was sufficient information such as parents' birth place. Yechury accused Modi government of pushing country towards polarisation on religious lines.