Chandigarh, Sept. 23 -- Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja on Monday called for a strong communist base to challenge the divisive politics of the present BJP-led central government.

Addressing the 25th national congress of the CPI, D Raja said that under (PM Narendra) Modi's rule, public education and health are being dismantled and handed over to private profiteers.

"Food security is under attack, with the PDS being eroded and hunger spreading. Farmers are being betrayed even after their historic struggle. Housing for the poor remains a dream. And inequality has reached shameful extremes, with a few billionaires richer than the entire population at the bottom half. This is not accidental. This is the direct outcome...