– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The government has denied political clearance for Dr. V. Sivadasan, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and Joint Secretary of All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), to attend a conference on fascism in Venezuela organised by its National Assembly.
The Central Working Committee of AIAWU condemned the decision, which prevents Sivadasan from representing India at the “World Parliamentary Forum Against Fascism, Neo-Fascism, and Similar Expressions,” scheduled in Caracas on November 4-6. Sivadasan, invited to the event to discuss global political threats, expressed his dismay at the denial, noting India’s positive diplomatic relations with Venezuela, including collaborations in multilateral initiatives like the Non-Aligned Movement and the recently formed International Solar Alliance.
At a press conference held at HKS Surjit Bhavan, Sivadasan criticised the government’s decision, calling it an attack on his rights as an MP. He highlighted his concerns in a letter to the External Affairs Minister, protesting the action as a deliberate suppression of democratic participation.
Sivadasan argued that this denial exposes the true agenda of the Modi government, which, he claimed, undermines democratic principles in favour of divisive policies. He emphasised that rising far-right and neo-fascist movements pose a growing threat worldwide, and countries and political groups are uniting to defend democratic values. However, he accused the current government of undermining these global efforts and acting with clear political bias.
