[Marxistindia] Stringently Punish Perpetrators of Communal Targeting

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 22, 2020


Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued  
the following statement:

Stringently  punish perpetrators of communal targeting


The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the communal  
targeting of India’s largest religious minority – the Muslims – that  
is increasingly taking place during the current battle against the  
Covid-19 pandemic. Nasty abuses, social media postings dutifully  
relayed by the trolls of the ruling party supporters is simply not  
acceptable. They violate basic constitutional provisions. Such crimes  
must be proceeded against and punished in accordance with law.


This communal hate campaign under the patronage of the ruling party at  
the Centre is putting the livelihood of millions of Indians, working  
and living abroad, at risk. Last year, 2019 alone, about 3 lakh  
Indians joined lakhs of others in the Gulf countries and West Asia,  
from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and West  
Bengal. Indian-origin persons make up the largest group of migrants in  
the world today, about 17.5 million.


The central government  must immediately invoke the provisions of the  
Disaster Management Act and take action against people, including  
political leaders and others holding high offices, who disrupt the  
united fight of all Indians against the pandemic by spreading venomous  
communal hatred. The BJP central government must ensure that the  
fundamental right to life and liberty of all Indians irrespective of  
their religion, caste, gender or disability cannot and must not be  
allowed to be violated.


Instead of acting against such people, the law seems to be targeting  
the minorities and proceeding against them. Journalists and activists,  
speaking against such hatred are being harassed, penalized and  
punished, while some lapdog media houses continue parroting such  
hate-filled campaigns. This is unacceptable.


The law must be invoked to stringently punish such criminals.

For CPI(M) Central Committee Office