SAD leader meets RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav over alternative front talks

AKALI DAL SAYS RASHTRIYA JANATA DAL LEADER AGREED TO BE A PART OF MEETING FOR WHICH A FINAL DATE WAS YET TO BE DECIDED

CHANDIGARH : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior vice-president Prem Singh Chandumajra on Thursday met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna asking him to join the meeting of parties other than the BJP and the Congress to forge an alternative front.

The meeting is likely to be held ahead of the budget session of Parliament starting January 29.

In a press release, Chandumajra said Tejashwi agreed to be a part of the meeting for which a final date was yet to be worked out. The SAD leader was in the Bihar capital in connection with the birth anniversary celebrations of tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh.

The SAD has formed a threemember committee comprising Chandumajra, Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and former cabinet minister Sikandar Singh Maluka for a dialogue with the leaders of regional parties. With parties like the Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) having shown their willingness to be part of the parley, the SAD, which initiated the proposed move, also plans to bring on board the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Indian National Lok dal and the Samajwadi Party.

Urges Nitish Kumar to exert pressure on BJP to repeal laws

Chandumajra said he urged Bihar chief minster Nitish Kumar to exert pressure on its partner BJP to accept the protesting farmers’ demands.

Nitish attended the Sikh guru’s anniversary celebrations. “He (Nitish) accepted that the demands raised by farmers were justified,” said Chandumajra.

In a letter to Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Chandumajra said the farmers should be allowed to take out tractor rally without any hurdle.