New Delhi, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Friday claimed that the BJP had been pushed “on the backfoot” following the student-led Jantar Mantar protest and what he described as a symbolic victory for the protesters.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a CPI-M Politburo meeting, Baby said the developments had created a new political situation in the country that, in his view, would strengthen secularism and democracy.
“BJP has suffered a setback because of Jantar Mantar students’ struggle victory,” Baby said, referring to an agreement under which cases registered against peacefully protesting students were expected to be withdrawn.
He alleged that the government subsequently backed out of the commitment, prompting student organisations to announce another demonstration on September 5. Baby said the government then approached the Supreme Court seeking directions on withdrawing the cases.
The proposed agitation was later called off after the Supreme Court directed the quashing of FIRs registered against student protesters in various states.
“So, BJP is on the backfoot,” Baby said.
He also referred to the BJP’s reported electoral setback in Bihar’s Bankipur constituency, previously represented by BJP chief Nitin Nabin, as another indication of changing political dynamics.
Baby claimed that people were “deserting BJP” and Congress and said the “fascist tactics of RSS” would not succeed. He added that students and young people had demonstrated that they were “fearless”.
On India’s reported 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter, Baby described the figures as “fudged accounting”. He cited criticism from economists, including former Finance Secretary and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, to question the manner in which the growth figures were being presented.
“The so-called amazing growth rate that is being shown through the GDP statistics, it is fudged, you know, accounting,” he said.
Baby said the CPI-M Politburo meeting would review the country’s overall political situation. He noted that the previous Parliament session had been largely disrupted and said the party would assess reports of a possible special session and prepare for political developments in the coming days.
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