Time to end double-lives and forked-tongues.

The Communist Party’s dilemma has worsened. The question is not yet “to be or not to be;” instead, it is something akin to it. Should the party permit professing theists to continue with their beliefs and practices? Talk about double standards and hypocrisy. Although the party was founded upon atheism and a materialistic ideology, from time to time it vacillated between strict enforcement of atheism and deft use of the religion-card for political gains.

After some humiliating defeats in elections, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) came up with some ideas to revitalise the party. There is a self-confessed need for amendments in various areas. As a part of an amendment drive, directives were issued to members. One such directive asks party members and functionaries to refrain from all religious functions and rituals. Quite similar to the Sangh Parivar’s decision to highlight its Hindutva card, the communists have decided to get back to their basic principles of atheism and materialism.

A former MP, Dr Manoj K. S alias Manoj Kurisinkal, took this directive seriously. He, like many Christians, Muslims and Hindus, had joined the communist party without paying due regard to its century-old atheistic foundations. Manoj, a devout Catholic and lay leader, realized that the time had come for him to choose between the party and his faith. He chose the latter and quit the godless party. This move caught the headlines in national dailies.

In the communist party, there are thousands of grass-root level workers and middle level leaders who believe in God. Some of them are office-bearers in religious institutions. There are many clergymen and bishops who support communism and are thus standing on two separate boats. When Christian bishops sing odes to communism, they forget that millions of Christians were persecuted in communist countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. Even today, communist China persecutes Christians.

For all of them, the moment of truth has arrived. They can either continue their double-lives or choose between their religion and party. That a political party should exalt itself to the place of God – to demand total devotion and commitment from human beings – is something that must wake its members from their spiritual slumber. The communists have laid bare their diabolic intent of wiping religion and faith from the face of the earth.

This is not news for most people. We have all known how the founders of Marxism and Communism wished to kick God out of people’s hearts. This ‘spiritual’ mission was very much a part of Marxist agenda as was their agenda to bring economic liberation through violent revolution. Many religious people fooled themselves, trying to believe that the communist utopia was identical with the Kingdom of God in the Gospels. Many deliberately overlooked the atheistic agenda and diabolic nature of communism.

The top level leaders in the communist parties are maintaining a studied silence on the whole issue. Will they crack their whip on theists? They may not. Even if they will, they may not have anything to worry about. Most Indians are yet to learn to think rationally and to employ “either-or” choices. They continue to embrace opposing concepts with their primitive “both-and” thinking.