Leaders and workers of the Communist Party of India attend a rally to mark their party’s centenary in Kolkata on December 26, 2025. | Photo credit: PTI
Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D. Raja on Friday (Dec 26, 2025) said the country’s parliamentary system was “becoming redundant” and warned that the BJP-RSS combine posed a serious threat to India’s constitution and existence as a united federal nation.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the CPI’s centenary celebrations, Mr Raja said the party, now entering its 101st year, was facing “big challenges” and needed to step up its fight “not just to save the party but to save the nation”.
“The Left movement is divided today. During British rule, we fought together against the colonial forces. How long can communists remain divided in the current political situation,” asked Mr. Raja, recalling that the Chandigarh party convention discussed ways to strengthen the CPI and unite the Left.
Reiterating the CPI’s consistent call for the reunification of the Communist movement, he said, “When fascist forces are breaking up the country, how long can the Communists remain divided? We are a mother party based on the soil of India and we have reached out to all sections of the people.”
Accusing the BJP of “disrespecting the constitution”, Mr Raja said the ruling party had never adopted the tricolor or the constitutional framework. “The BJP-RSS combine is a threat not only to the constitution but to the very existence of India as a nation,” he said, adding that the challenge before the CPI was “how to save the constitution and the country”.
Parliament, he said, does not function for even 100 days. “The BJP and its allies are not allowing the parliament to function. If the parliament does not function, democracy dies and is replaced by electoral autocracy. We fought the British, the French and the Portuguese. Now we have to fight the BJP raj,” he said.
As the party commemorates its 101st anniversary, Mr. Raja pledged to strengthen the CPI’s commitment to building a “classless, casteless, socialist India” and to fight against communal and fascist forces. “We will be at the forefront of the fight and ensure that these forces are removed from power,” he declared.
Published – 26 Dec 2025 22:18 IST
