NEW DELHI: In a significant move, a diverse coalition of intellectuals, activists, and representatives of marginalized communities has launched a civil society movement aimed at confronting the rising tide of communalism, authoritarianism, and economic marginalization under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
The event, held in New Delhi, reflected growing concerns about the concentration of political power and resources in the hands of a few, while systematically excluding historically oppressed groups such as Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Adivasis, Muslims, Christians, and others from meaningful participation in public discourse, development, and democracy.
Speakers at the event stressed the urgent need for unity among the 85% of India’s population made up of these marginalized communities. They called for a collective response to what they described as the “communal, Manuwadi, and fascist forces” led by upper-caste political elites and crony capitalists, who are dividing India along religious and caste lines while consolidating control over wealth, institutions, and the national narrative.
“This is not just a political call, but a social and moral responsibility,” said Dr. Udit Raj, a prominent Dalit leader and former parliamentarian.
“India’s Constitution guarantees equality, dignity, and justice to all, but today, only a few privileged sections control resources and power.” He emphasized that this issue has transcended politics and is now a matter of survival for the majority of India’s population.
Participants at the gathering also condemned the increasing corporatization of national wealth, asserting that media, political institutions, and government bodies are now controlled by the same nexus of power, leaving little room for the marginalized to have their voices heard or participate meaningfully in democratic processes.
It was pointed out that institutions of democracy—from Parliament to the judiciary to the media—are now largely captured by a Brahminical-capitalist nexus that promotes majoritarianism while sidelining the aspirations of the majority of the population.
“This is not just economic policy—this is social exclusion,” said Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood, a former civil servant and president of the Zakat Foundation of India. “The country’s wealth is being sold off, and with it, the dreams of millions.
The state’s silence and the media’s complicity have normalized atrocities.” Dr. Mahmood further criticized the “bulldozer politics” and criminalization of dissent, arguing that these tactics are designed to silence the voices of the poor, backward, and minorities.
Veteran activist Sardar Ajmer Singh called for self-reliance among the oppressed. “We cannot expect justice from those who built their privilege on our exclusion. Dalits, minorities, and Adivasis must chart their own path forward,” he stated.
One of the key resolutions adopted at the event was the promotion of inter-community bonding through practical and symbolic means, such as shared meals, joint celebrations, and collaborative business ventures, to foster trust and solidarity among diverse marginalized communities.
