3 min readDec 23, 2014 05:58 AM IST
First published on: Dec 23, 2014 at 05:58 AM IST
SP Chief Mulayam Singh with RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, JDS Chief H D Deve Gowda and SP leader Azam Khan during the Janata Parivar protest against Modi govt at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Source: PTI photo)
Throwing their collective weight behind the creation of a larger Opposition bloc in the country, six bigwigs of the erstwhile Janata Parivar on Monday shared dais at a “Mahadharna” slamming the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as the ruling party called the initiative a “gathering of brand ambassadors of corruption and misrule.”
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar called for “sinking old prejudices” and promised to “script a new story” in the Indian politics by ousting the BJP.
Tariq Anwar and D P Tripathi from the NCP also shared the dais, while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee sent a letter of support to the leaders through Derek O’ Brien, who however did not turn up at the venue.
The agitation programme, which saw participation of former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, INLD’s Dushyant Chautala and SJP’s Kamal Morarka, is being dubbed as the “first solid step” towards the merger of the parties.
BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma, however, tweeted: “This is not Janata Parivar. It’s a gathering of brand ambassadors of corruption and misrule who have been rejected by people.”
The senior politicians recalled that the Janata Parivar had formed three governments in alliance in the past and reminded Modi dispensation that it has got “only 31 per cent of votes” and would have to “go back” if it fails to fulfil the promises.
“From our identities as separate parties, we have to merge in a single party. An agreement has been reached on this. Mulayam Singh has to work out the modalities…We should contact even others. Let us make a comprehensive Opposition. Setting aside our prejudices, we want to form a strong Opposition,” Nitish said.
Attacking the NDA government, Lalu said, “An attempt is being made to persistently target Mamata.”
He said that while people talk about the differences between him and Nitish, “we have come together now”.
Playing audio of Modi’s speeches, Rajnath Singh and Ramdev about bringing back black money, the leaders asked “what happened to the promise that Rs 15 lakh will reach the pockets of the poor once black money is brought back.”
SP Chief Mulayam Singh with RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, JDS Chief H D Deve Gowda and SP leader Azam Khan during the Janata Parivar protest against Modi govt at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Source: PTI photo)
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