New Delhi: Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav (pictured) on Thursday brought together opposition parties on a common platform for saving the composite culture of the country that was in “danger” as participants asserted that there was a need to fight divisive forces that posed a threat to the Constitution.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader Ahmed Patel, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah were among the leaders from 14 parties who attended the “Save Composite culture” convened by Yadav.
Rahul Gandhi launched a stinging attack on the Narendra Modi government and the RSS. Gandhi accused them of trying to change the Constitution and urged all opposition parties to fight them unitedly.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, RJD leader Manoj Jha, JVM leader Babulal Marandi, NCP leader Tariq Anwar, grandson of B R Ambedkar Prakash Ambedkar, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja, Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Shekhar Roy and Veer Singh (BSP) were the other participants in the day-long conference.
Yadav was opposed to Nitish Kumar’s decision and was replaced as leader of the JD(U) Parliamentary group in Rajya Sabha.
“People were worried that I may get swayed and accept the ministerial berth. But my principle did not allow me to accept that,” Yadav said in a reference to the recent developments in Bihar where party President Nitish Kumar switched sides to join the BJP and continue as Chief Minister.
CPI-M leader Sitram Yechury criticised the government and appealed for saving the composite civilisation, which, he said, was under attack from forces which wants to push their narrow agenda.
Slamming the government, Communist Party of India leader D Raja said that RSS was the most unconstitutional authority in the country.
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah slammed the central government saying that India faces threat from within and not from outside.
“We don’t face any threat from outside, whether it is China and Pakistan.We are capable of handling them but the country faces threat from the people within the country,”
Congress leader Azad, speaking at the conclave said that composite culture of the country is in danger and there is a need to fight the destructive forces.
He also said that the RSS people were the one who supported Britishers during the freedom struggle. “And now they are talking about nationalism,” he said.
At the outset, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the children who died at the government hospital in Gorakhpur and farmers who had committed suicide. — IANS
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
