NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised Left politics as a “retrograde ideology” which has lost a lot of ground, even as he praised BJP MP from Kerala, C Sadanandan Master’s maiden speech in Rajya Sabha, and admired his courage after he lost his legs in a brutal attack by alleged supporters of CPM over three decades ago.Master had put his prosthetic legs on display as he delivered his speech in the House on Feb 2 to highlight the brutality of his CPM rivals, a charge rejected by the party’s members.Modi said, “Your courage is widely known in Kerala and to a lot of us, but when you displayed the artificial limbs that support you, it surprised people in Parliament and across the length and breadth of India. People were unable to digest how in a vibrant democracy like ours, a hardworking teacher could be attacked like this by followers of a retrograde ideology.” He added, “And today, it is worth noting that the retrograde ideology has shrunk greatly, while you are sitting proudly in Parliament! The manner in which a few MPs were mocking you and questioning your struggles was appalling even by their own dismal standards.” Modi, however, did not directly mention the Left parties.The PM echoed Sadanandan’s anguish over the political situation in poll-bound Kerala, saying people are tired of the Congress-led UDF and CPM-led LDF, two principal rivals in a state where BJP has made some gains but remains a distant third so far. Modi recalled his recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram and said the welcome he got was exceptional. “The presence of youngsters in particular was gladdening to see. It shows that the people of Kerala are appreciating our vision of Vikasita Keralam. I am sure you are happy that Kerala will benefit significantly from the recently presented budget and its provisions across a wide range of sectors,” he said.
