CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury hit out at both the Trinamool (TMC) and the BJP for leveraging Bengal’s heritage for their own political gain, and condemned the violent clashes during Amit Shah’s rally in Kolkata on 14 May that resulted in the smashing of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s bust.
Yechury slammed the BJP and its ideological father Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and asked, “This is their advocacy of India’s civilisational heritage?”
Claiming that attacking knowledge is how the BJP-RSS want to implement their “poisonous project” in Bengal, he said, “Bengal will reject the destruction they offer”.
BJP-RSS think nothing of when they vandalise the historic Vidyasagar College, break Vidyasagar statue. This is their advocacy of India’s civilisational heritage? Attacking knowledge is central to getting their poisonous project going. Bengal will reject the destruction they offer
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 14, 2019
The CPI(M) leader added that both the TMC and BJP “are hell-bent on negating the heritage and ethos of Bengal” and that they have revealed their true agenda which is “destructive and unacceptable” for West Bengal.
He added, “This can’t go on, this will not stand.” (Eta cholbe na, chala uchit na.)
By this ugly show in the capital of Bengal, do BJP and TMC think they will win support? It is an act of desperation where they have both revealed their destructive and unacceptable agenda for Bengal. Eta cholbe na, chala uchit na. https://t.co/MtK2T8RGE5
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 14, 2019
Both TMC and BJP in Bengal today are hell-bent on negating the heritage and ethos of Bengal. #Vote4Left #Jadavpur pic.twitter.com/j32elSWAoQ
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 14, 2019
Yechury pointed out how Vidyasagar “stood for progress, pathbreaking reform and enlightenment,” everything that is against what the Sangh parivar propagates today. He saidthat it is clear that the Sangh “would seek destruction of his (Vidyasagar’s) ideas.”
Vidyasagar was conferred the title of the ocean of knowledge. A leading figure in the Bengal renaissance, he stood for progress, pathbreaking reform and enlightenment. It is very clear why the Sangh parivar would seek destruction of his ideas. https://t.co/3f3dXJGaY4
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 14, 2019
The veteran leader highlighted that instead of being an isolated act of vandalism, Tuesday’s incident is a systematic attack afoot in Bengal.
The CPI(M) leader also slammed the BJP’s tendency to obscure the truth with diversions, in an attempt to gaslight the electorate.
He added, “These obscurantists have always opposed Vidyasagar’s ideas. But Bengal will not succumb.”
Not about just a statue, but a systematic attack on Bengal. One of the biggest symbols of the Bengal renaissance is what BJP-RSS have attacked. These obscurantists have always opposed Vidyasagar’s ideas.
But Bengal will not succumb. At College Square now https://t.co/IScPyuzW1G— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 15, 2019