KANNUR: Sitaram Yechury said that the main objective of the Left parties is to defeat the BJP. The challenges of Hindutva can only be overcome through secularism. For this, there must be a broad secular unity. Left unity must be strengthened.

He said the CPM had never made peace with the BJP. He was speaking to the media at the party congress. The secular parties need to come together to defeat and isolate the BJP.

The Congress leaders did not attend the secular seminar even though they were invited. He also blamed how such people could be invited to fight for secularism.

Shashi Tharoor and Mani Shankar Iyer were all invited to the party congress but no one came. He said the matter of KV Thomas should be decided by the Congress.

There is no contradiction between the Kerala state government and Central govt in their stand on Silver Line project. Other matters can be decided after the survey. Fuel prices are the main challenge faced by the country. Yechury demanded the Centre to withdraw fuel and surcharges and asked them to impose taxes on the rich.