Modi's rule posing greater danger to democracy than Emergency, alleges CPI(M) leader Raghavulu
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule is posing a greater danger to democracy and secularism than the Emergency imposed five decades ago.
Addressing the media in Vijayawada on Tuesday, Mr. Raghavulu said the current political climate reflected an 'undeclared Emergency,' where voice of dissent was stifled and foreign policy was driven by external influence, particularly the United States.
The CPI(M) would launch a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of authoritarianism, especially as June 25 marked 50 years since the declaration of Emergency in 1975.
'We must remember that CPI(M) and other parties fought tooth and nail against the Emergency. Today, the threat is even more insidious and demands united resistance,' he said.
Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the Modi government was inciting war hysteria instead of seeking peaceful, democratic solution to terrorism and international tensions.
'The Centre is withholding facts from the public. It is silent over U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that he mediated between India and Pakistan to prevent a war,' he alleged, adding that the Centre did not heed the demand to convene a special parliamentary session to bring the facts to light. The Central government was becoming subservient to Mr. Trump, he alleged.
Israel's attack on Iran
On Israel's attack on Iran, Mr. Raghavulu criticised the Modi government's 'muted response.' 'Despite India's deep economic ties with Iran, including crude oil imports and port construction, our government refuses to condemn Israel's actions. Instead, it supports them. This is morally and strategically indefensible,' the CPI(M) leader asserted, warning that such actions could escalate oil prices and harm India's economy.
'All democratic forces should come together to safeguard secularism, federalism, and constitutional values from the emerging fascist forces in the guise of governance,' he added.
CPI(M) leader U. Vasuki and State Secretariat member Y. Venkateswara Rao were present.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi joins G7 leaders for outreach session
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the outreach session of the G7 leaders' summit in the resort of Kananaskis on Tuesday as New Delhi and Ottawa sought to reset bilateral ties after a prolonged diplomatic spat. Modi was formally greeted by his host who had invited him to the global event, and they shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and smiled for the cameras, and the two were to carry on their conversations at a bilateral meeting later in the day. Among his first engagements was a pull-aside meeting with the President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, also an invitee for the outreach session. He also had a similar meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. A packed day of engagements for the Indian PM, who only arrived in Calgary on Monday evening, also included bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, their first since the latter assumed the post, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, people familiar with the matter said. Modi's meeting with Carney at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge was the last on the Indian prime minister's schedule in Calgary before a departure to Croatia. One potential meeting that did not take place was with US President Donald Trump, who skipped the last day of the summit and returned to Washington on Monday night due developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran that have overshadowed the G7 gathering. 'Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South,' the prime minister said on X after his arrival in Calgary on Monday evening He received a ceremonial welcome at the airport and was received by, among others, India's Acting High Commissioner to Ottawa, Chinmoy Naik. This was Modi's sixth consecutive participation at the G7 summit since the summit in 2019 held at Biarritz in France. The invitation to the Indian prime minister was seen as a reflection of India's growing economic heft and the perception among G7 member states that New Delhi must be part of efforts to find solutions to economic and security issues. India-Canada ties rapidly deteriorated after then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the charges as 'absurd' and accused the Trudeau government of giving space to extremist and radical elements. Over the past two years, the two sides expelled each other's diplomats and downgraded diplomatic ties. However, since late last year, the top leadership of both countries have resumed contact since Carney won the general election. Earlier, the G7 leaders signed a joint statement calling for de-escalation of fighting between Israel and Iran while reaffirming that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear bomb. The statement reads: 'We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.' Trump left the meeting in Canada early to deal with the Israel-Iran conflict, but played down the chances of a ceasefire. On Tuesday morning, he returned to Washington and criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for saying the move was possibly a sign he was working on a truce.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Congress questions PM's silence on U.S. outreach to Pakistan
The Congress on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the U.S. reaching out to Pakistan while referring to Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir's visit to the country. In a post on X, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "So now it can no longer be denied by the drumbeaters of the PM and the BJP's troll army. The man whose incendiary, inflammatory, and provocative remarks were directly linked to the Pahalgam terror attacks is now officially in Washington D.C." "The question we had asked earlier needs to be repeated: What is America up to by hosting Asim Munir in this manner? Why are the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister silent on this outrageous American outreach to Pakistan?" he said. The Congress leader also took a swipe at Mr. Modi after U.S. President Donald Trump left the G-7 Summit in Canada a day earlier, saying it is a "setback for self-styled Vishwaguru's huglomacy". "President Trump has left the G-7 Summit a day before the G-7 outreach with eight other countries that includes India begins. A setback for self-styled Vishwaguru's Huglomacy," Mr. Ramesh said in another post. The Congress has been taking swipes at the Prime Minister for giving hugs to foreign heads of States during his meetings with them at international or bilateral engagements, using the term "huglomacy" for it. In a post on X, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, 'Trump has returned to America from G-7 meeting. Trump did not stay for outreach meeting to which Modi is invited. Trump talked about expanding the G-7 to include Russia and China. Not India.' 'Did the devotees perform yagya to make him the President? This is Modi's 'my friend'?' she wondered. Mr. Trump abruptly left the G-7 Summit on Monday (June 16, 2025), departing a day early as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensified and the U.S. President declared that Tehran should be evacuated 'immediately'. World leaders have gathered in Canada with the specific goal of helping to defuse a series of global pressure points, only to be disrupted by a showdown over Iran's nuclear programme that could escalate in dangerous and uncontrollable ways. Israel launched an aerial bombardment campaign against Iran four days ago.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
G7 Live Updates: Canada's Mark Carney Welcomes PM Modi For G7 Summit
Alberta, Canada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Canada to attend the annual G7 Summit. He said he would be discussing important global issues and highlight the issues of the Global South at the international forum. PM Modi is also scheduled to hold a host of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Canada since relations with the north American country slumped over the last two years over then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support to separatists and radical elements acting against India and Indian interests. India and Canada now aim to iron out differences with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the helm of the Canadian government. During last year's diplomatic fallout between the two nations, India's foreign ministry had squarely pinned the blame on Justin Trudeau and the actions taken under his leadership. This visit however, is for a multilateral forum, though it is expected that PM Modi and his Canadian counterpart would meet on the sidelines to rebuild the India-Canada partnership. Besides the G7 and a meet with host Mark Carney, Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes several back-to-back bilateral meetings with other global leaders present there. This year's G7 marks the 51st summit, and completion of half a century for the leading multilateral forum. It is being held in Canada's Alberta in a town named Kananaskis, which has previously hosted the the G8 Summit in 2002. Though India is not a part of the G7 grouping, it has been invited for the global summit each year for the last six years and twelve times in total. Here are the Live Updates from the G7 Summit in Canada: