Either we live as humans or perish as Hindus, Muslims, or Christians: Sitaram Yechury

Hyderabad: Speaking at a public talk organised by Techies for a Better India in Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Gachibowli on Sunday, senior CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said his idea of India is where everybody has free access to technology.

He said technology should be used for the betterment of society and not to make a profit. "My idea of India is where we have not just material quality but also intellectual equality," said Mr. Yechury.

The talk was attended by techies and other professionals and graduate students from Hyderabad.

Mr. Yechury said the struggle should be to ensure education and employment for all which would eventually result in the empowerment of the people.

'Idea of India being destroyed'

Mr. Yechury said that under the current regime of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the idea of India is being destroyed. "The basis of the secular, democratic country is being disrupted. Each of the four pillars of the Constitution like secularism, sovereignty, socialism, etc., is in danger. Beyond that, all independent institutions that were established by the Constitution like the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary are no longer functioning properly. For instance, the Parliament has been now left as a talking shop where there are no discussions taking place, and all that you can see is the tyranny of the majority," explained Mr. Yechury.

Referring to the anti-conversion laws introduced in some BJP-ruled states like Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yechury said the BJP in India is currently trying to criminalise interfaith marriages. Narrating his own story of marrying a Muslim woman, he asked "What's my son then?" He answered his own question, "An Indian."

Further, elaborating on this discussion, he said everybody is primarily a human being. He urged the people to take the struggle for equality forward and work towards an India where equality is sacrosanct. "Either we live as human beings or perish as Hindus, Muslims, or Christians," he concluded his talk.