CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP's defeat in the recent Delhi assembly polls and the government's failure to secure passage for the motion of thanks to the president for his address to parliament without amendments.

Addressing a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) -convened rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here, Yechuri, a CPI-M politburo member, also admitted that the party has learnt from its mistakes.

"Modiji used to mock at the opposition, saying it was so small that all the members would fit into a bus to come to parliament.

"But after the Delhi elections, it's the BJP whose condition is pitiable. With just three members, an auto-rickshaw is sufficient to carry them," said Yechury.

"Even last week in parliament he mocked about the demise of the Red flag (CPI-M's party flag). Ironically, that day Modiji suffered his biggest defeat when an amendment to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, brought by us, was passed in the Rajya Sabha," he said.

Taking a jibe at Modi's 'Achhe din aane wale hain' (good days are to come) poll slogan, Yechury quoted from popular song of Kishore Kumar's to say that the people of the country were now instead singing 'Koi lauta de mere beetey hue din' (someone please return my good old days).

"The good days are only for the capitalists and the corporates. From ghar wapasi (home coming), Modiji is talking about dhan wapasi (return of money) but we haven't seen a single step by this government to bring back the black money," he added.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) of stoking communal hatred in the country, the veteran Marxist said only the Left parties in the country could stop these communal and neo-liberal forces.

"I wish Modiji could come here to see the 12 lakh people that have assembled here. Hopefully, he is watching it on TV and getting the message that people here are giving.

"This mammoth rally is an answer to those who say the Left is dead," Yechury asserted, as he called upon the people to strengthen the party in West Bengal.

Sounding the clarion call for the forthcoming municipal polls and the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal, Yechury urged the people to strengthen the CPI-M in the state.

"We had made mistakes and the people have taught us the lesson. We have learnt from mistakes and will not repeat them. A human being is one who learns from his mistakes and rectifies them.

"Our dream is for a better India and that is not possible without a political change. This change has to start from Bengal. The responsibility is now on you to work towards that better India," Yechury said at the rally.

Rally left, democratic forces against Modi's neo-liberal agenda: CPI-M

 Accusing the BJP-led central government of targeting the minorities and working for the interests of the corporates and foreign capital, the CPI-M on Sunday called for a united movement of left and democratic forces against the neo-liberal policies and communal agenda of the Narendra Modi government.

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat also stressed on the need for consolidating left unity and presenting a left and democratic alternative before the country.

"Since the BJP-led government came to power nine months back, we are seeing rightist attacks. The big capitalists and corporates are behind this attack.

"With them are the hindutva communal forces led by the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), who are not only supporting this government,A but also actively pursuing their communal agenda," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told a huge rally here.

Karat said the Modi government was working in the interests of big capitalists and foreign capital.

"They had promised to stop price rice. But now every day we see food prices spiralling. Condition of peasants is so bad, they are committing suicides. They (the government) want to change labour laws to deny workers the protection they enjoy now under the Labour Act."

"The Modi government wants to implement a neo-liberal agenda. In the interests of the peasants, workers and the toiling masses we have to come together to resist and oppose the moves."

Addressing a huge gathering at the open rally called in connection with the CPI-M's West Bengal state conference beginning on Monday, Karat said the "RSS and the hindutva brigade" are stoking the communal fire across the country.

"At various places, attacks on minorities have intensified. They raise the issue of cow slaughter to target the minorities. In some areas there have been forced conversations. They are preparing programmes to reconvert christians and muslims into hindus.

Describing the "communal danger" as a danger for the country and the unity of masses, Karat said: "We need to rally the left and democratic forces to launch our fight against the communal and neo-liberal agenda of the government and hindutva brigade."

Karat said the CPI-M will finalise its programme on these issues at its party in Vishakhapatnam next month.

"In this Congress, the CPI-M will finalise its political line and direction so as to face the challenges before the people and the country in the present context.

"The Congress will give the roadmap on how the party can go forward with strength and consolidate left unity to present a left and democratic alternative before the country," he added.