Congress is reaching out to people: CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury on Bharat Jodo Yatra

In an interview with India Today, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury spoke about a multitude of topics, including Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, the upcoming Budget 2023, and a row over the BBC documentary on PM Modi.

File photo of CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

By Anirban Sinha Roy: CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury lauded the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying that it is good that Congress is reaching out to people. The Bharat Jodo Yatra concluded today in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Impact (of the yatra) we will have to wait and see. But the fact that after many years the Congress has decided to reach out to the people, it is good,” Sitaram Yechury said in an exclusive interview with India Today.

ON UNION BUDGET 2023

Sitaram Yechury listed five very specific points for the upcoming Budget to revive the “tanking economy”.

“One thing the government must do is to hike public investment and build much-needed infrastructure, and for that, they need to create a lot of new jobs. When our youth get these new jobs and when they start spending their salaries, the closed MSME and small-scale industries will revive. So, this will provide employment and lead to revival. This is the first proposal,” the CPI(M) leader said.

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He further enumerated four other points: “Second, for employment generation, hike allocation for MNREGA substantially. Third, for resource mobilization, tax the rich. Impose of wealth tax and inheritance tax. Fourth, for relief to the people it must do two things. One, immediately also announce subsidized ration. Finally, abolish the GST on food items, essential commodities and medicines. These are required to provide relief to the economy and to the people.”

ON BBC DOCUMENTARY ROW

Talking about the row around the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sitaram Yechury said, “The point is that this is a documentary and BBC is well-respected for maintaining journalistic ethics. This has not been something BBC released to India so I don’t know how you can ban it. This is on International social media and from there it is circulating. So, the fact that the government is panicked, betrays their guilt.”

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ON PM MODI, GAUTAM ADANI

Sitaram Yechury slammed the government accusing it of “crony capitalism”.

“That Adani and Modi are close friend was obvious before the 2014 elections. Since then, the way Adani’s wealth has grown is testimony to how crony capitalism was implemented by the Modi government to favour Adani and few other people,” Sitaram Yechury told India Today TV.

SEVERE ASSAULT ON PILLARS OF CONSTITUTION: SITARAM YECHURY

The CPI(M) leader called for everyone to come together to save “secular democratic republic of India”. He alleged that the pillars of the Constitution are under “severe assault” by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

He said, “Every single pillar of our Constitution- secular democracy, social justice, economic sovereignty, federalism- are under severe assault. And the country is permeated by a vicious campaign of hate and violence.”

“This situation cannot continue,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.