Karat for new platform to fight imperialism and communalism

Kottayam, Aug 16 (UNI) Communist Party of India(Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat has emphasised the need for creating a new platform of political forces to fight against imperialism and communalism.

Presenting the first T K Memorial Puraskaram to Dr K N Panicker at a function here yesterday, he said imperialism, which enslaved the country, and communalism, which sought to disturb the unity among people in the struggle against imperialism, were the two enemies and even at this time also we had to fight against it.

''To secure secularism and fight against communalism we have to take a firm stand and should not compromise with the latter.

Collaboration and compromise with imperialism would erode our economic sovereignty and independent foreign policy,'' he said.

The Left parties and democratic forces must work together to create a new alternative platform, which would be different from that of the BJP and Congress, Mr Karat said.

T K Ramakrishnan was an outstanding leader of the communist movement in Kerala and one of the most accomplished leaders of the progressive movement, he opined.

The function was attended by MP Suresh Kurup, state P W D Minister Mons Joseph among others.

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