Members of civil society and rights outfits from Jharkhand, Bihar, Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh gave a call to defeat the BJP in the 2024 General Elections in order to save democracy, Constitution and the country.

Over 140 members attended the two-day ‘save democracy’ conclave, organised by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha and Loktantrik Rashtra Nirman Abhiyan (democratic nation building campaign), at Bagaicha, established by Stan Swamy at Namkum in Ranchi. The conclave ended on Wednesday.

“There was a detailed discussion on the fragmentation and distortion of the concept and structure of democracy, nation, Constitution and citizenship by the BJP-RSS combine. The initiative is being taken to change the constitutional concept of India to make it a Hindu nation. Repression is going on against Muslims, other minorities, Dalits, tribals, backwards, democratic agitators and anti-BJP parties,” said Ambika Yadav, a member of the Mahasabha.

“Federal agencies such as CBI, ED, and IT are being used to protect the BJP and intimidate the Opposition. The rise of religious majoritarianism has caused hatred, oppression and neglect of Muslims, Christians, Dalits, Adivasis and women,” added Yadav.

Praveer Peter, another member of Mahasabha, said: “There is a constant attack on the rights of the working class by reducing funds for education, health and MGNREGA.

Social security is being weakened. Unemployment is at its peak. On the other hand, the Modi government is selling or handing over the country’s resources and companies one by one to a few corporate houses. The loot of water, forest, land and minerals of tribals has become more intense.”

In the inaugural session of the conclave, former JNU teacher and coordinator of the Democratic Nation Building Campaign, Anand Kumar, said that there are two main goals of the campaign.

“The immediate goal is to oust the current anti-national, undemocratic BJP from power in the upcoming general elections. The second far-reaching objective of the campaign is to develop a democratic, secular and socialist nation by preserving the “Idea of India” established by the Constitution of India,” said Kumar.

Tribal rights activist Dayamani Barla said that tribal Dalits are being exploited by the BJP’s anti-people policies in the whole country including Jharkhand.

“At present, many groups and organisations are struggling in Jharkhand on public issues like 1932 Khatian-based domicile, language-based identity etc. All these groups and organisations will have to come together to defeat the BJP,” said Barla.

Former MLA and separate Jharkhand state activist Bahadur Oraon said that the BJP is following the policy of ‘divide and rule’ whether it is between Hindu-Muslim, Sarna-Christian tribals or Kudmi-tribals.

In the second session of the programme, there was a detailed discussion on strategy-making for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Representatives from different regions analysed the seats in their respective regions and Lok Sabha constituencies in detail and presented their views on the problems and election strategy.

The delegates decided to organise mass contact programmes in their respective regions/states in the next few months to expose the real face of the BJP.

An appeal was made to non-BJP parties to run their political campaign in favour of public issues and opposing religious majoritarianism. An appeal was also made to the Dalit, tribal and backward communities to unite and oppose the BJP and avoid internal division.