Attacking Modi support to crony capitalism and neo-liberalism, AAP splinter Swaraj Samvad not to ally with Communists

Prof Anand Kumar (centre) at the press conference

By A Representative
Even several weeks after it "broke away" from the parent organization, the splinter group of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has tentatively called itself Swaraj Samvad, is still at the exploratory stage about the political directions it should take in futre. Swaraj Samvad's national convener Prof Anand Kumar, in Ahmedabad to explore "possibilities" of political support, has told newspersons that the organization cannot find any established political organizations or individuals with whom it could find a common ground in the country.
While claiming that the main purpose of the Swaraj Samwad is to take the "AAP spirit" to the national level by holding zonal and state-level meetings, Kumar, who fought Parliamentary polls on AAP ticket in East Delhi and, though defeated, was able to garner 4.5 lakh votes, said, "While it is possible to align with anyone while launching movements such as the one against the land acquisition Act, such alliances are simply not possible when political battles are fought, especially during elections."
"Currently, we are in the process of holding such zonal meetings. In Gujarat it will be held on May 25. Details are being worked out, but several leaders, including Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan are likely to attend", he said, even as denying that the BJP is popular in the state. "This is a misnomer", he insisted, adding, "The BJP is ruling the state because people are angry with the Congress. We will be making a debut in local body elections in Gujarat, with are to take place later this year."
Asserting that the present Narendra Modi rule is more aggressively going ahead with the neo-liberal agenda and support to crony capitalism, which characterized the previous Congress rule, Kumar disagreed that the Swaraj Samwad had anything in common with the two Communist Parties, CPI or CPM, which take a similar view of things. Answering a question whether the language he spoke wasn't similar to that of the Communists, he said, "The Communist parties are close organizations, they are not transparent and democratic in their functioning."
Besides, Kumar said, "Communist parties do not believe in allowing their organizations to be part of the Right to Information (RTI) framework, something with which we fundamentally disagree." Asked whether the Swaraj Samvad could find a common cause with Congress on issues like land acquisition Act, Kumar said, "It is because of the Congress misrule only that the BJP-led government is in power. It has no capacity to mobilize. It isn't serious about whatever agitations it launches."
To yet another question, Kumar said, the main aim of the Swaraj Samvad would be to "align" with such mass organizations like top anti-Narmada dam activist Medha Patkar, her organization Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), and the apex body of tens of civil rights organizations, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM). "We will launch movements with the support of organizations like NBA and NAPM, with whom we find a common cause", he said.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Blurring the line between fiction and political narrative

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" does not wait to be remembered; it arrives almost on the heels of its predecessor, released on March 19, 2026, just months after the first film’s December 2025 debut. The speed of its arrival feels less like creative urgency and more like calculated timing—cinema responding not to storytelling rhythm but to the emotional climate of its audience. Director Aditya Dhar, along with actor Yami Gautam, appears acutely aware of this moment and how to harness it.

BJP accounts for 99% of political donations in Gujarat: Corporate giants dominate

By Jag Jivan An analysis of the official data on donations received by national parties from Gujarat during the Financial Year 2024-25 reveals a staggering concentration of funding, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for nearly the entirety of the contributions. The data, compiled in a document titled "National Parties donations received from Gujarat during FY-2024-25," lists thousands of transactions, painting a detailed picture of the financial backing for political parties from one of India’s most industrially significant states.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Captains extraordinaire: Ranking cricket’s most influential skippers

By Harsh Thakor* Ranking the greatest cricket captains is a subjective exercise, often sparking passionate debate among fans. The following list is not merely a tally of wins and losses; it is an assessment of leadership’s deeper impact. My criteria fuse a captain’s playing record with their tactical skill, placing the highest consideration on their ability to reshape a team’s fortunes and inspire those around them. A captain who inherited a dominant empire is judged differently from one who resurrected a nation’s cricket from the doldrums. With that in mind, here is my perspective on the finest leaders the game has ever seen.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Search This Blog