CPM says PM Modi government not fascist; CPI, Congress hit out

KOZHIKODE: A detailed note from CPM to its state units explaining why its draft political resolution for the 24th party congress does not say "Modi govt is fascist or neo-fascist" or characterise "the Indian state as a neo-fascist state" has accentuated fault lines in Left Front, with CPI demanding that its ally correct its stand.
"What we are pinpointing is that after 10 years of continuous rule by BJP, which is the political wing of RSS, there was a consolidation of political power in the hands of BJP-RSS, and this is resulting in the manifestation of neo-fascist characteristics," states the note.
It explains that the "characteristics" referred to in the draft political resolution for the April congress implies "features or trends" but not explicitly a neo-fascist govt or state. "The political resolution is talking about the danger of Hindutva-corporate authoritarianism going towards neo-fascism if BJP-RSS are not fought back and halted."
Unlike CPI and CPI (ML), both fiercely antagonistic towards the Sangh, CPM has all along taken an admittedly nuanced stand, with multiple political resolutions stating that the "authoritarian and Hindutva communal attacks display emerging fascist trends" (22nd party congress) and that the Modi govt was carrying out the "fascist agenda of RSS" (23rd party congress).

Congress reacted sharply to the note while CPI said it couldn't understand the "haste" to cushion the fascist labelling of the Modi govt.
"Fascist ideology teaches how religion and faith can be used for political gain and the BJP govt is implementing these in practice," CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said.
Leader of the opposition V D Satheesan of Congress said the CPM's assessment was part of its decision to "align with Modi and work in subservience to the Sangh". He told reporters in Malappuram that the "CPM discovery" wasn't a surprise, exposing its "secret relationship with BJP for years".
"CPM in Kerala has always compromised with fascism and the Sangh. The new document is an attempt to somehow hold on to it and survive," he said, adding that politburo members from Kerala led the initiative to draft such a document.
CPM central committee member A K Balan said in Thiruvananthapuram that the CPM never assessed the Modi govt as fascist in its original form.