Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Babbar downplays Maya-Jogi pact, hopeful of alliance

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com ▪

LUCKNOW:Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar on Thursday downplayed the BSP alliance with Ajit Jogi’s Chhattisga­rh Janata Congress in Chhattisga­rh assembly elections saying he was still hopeful that the main opposition parties would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls together.

“People want the opposition to come together to form a grand alliance to fight the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Hope the main opposition parties will meet the people’s expectatio­ns of forming a grand alliance. Alliances for assembly elections do not matter in Lok Sabha elections,” said Babbar in an informal chat with media persons at a tea stall in Lalbagh area here.

A large number of people gathered at the tea stall soon after Babbar reached there. “I had visited this stall while contesting Lok Sabha poll from Lucknow seat in the past. I was invited to visit the stall and here I am,” said Babbar while denying speculatio­ns that he planned to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from Lucknow. Replying to a question, Babbar said the RSS though claimed that its role was limited to giving advise to the BJP, the

Modi government’s move of allowing the organizati­on to hold its programme at Vigyan Bhawan gave clear indication­s about their relationsh­ip.

Babbar said the Rashtriya Swayamseva­k Sangh was changing stance on various issues, including those concerning the Hindus and the Muslims.

On the triple talaq issue, Babbar said besides triple talaq victims, care should also be taken of the women who had been left by their husbands and were not being given any maintenanc­e allowance etc.

 ?? HT ?? ▪ UPCC chief Raj Babbar at a tea stall in Lucknow on Thursday..
HT ▪ UPCC chief Raj Babbar at a tea stall in Lucknow on Thursday..

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India