17 pol parties attend Opposition meeting

Rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav’s efforts to unite opposition parties got a major boost today when several top leaders of Opposition parties gathered to attend Yadav’s ‘Sanjhi Virasat Bachao’ programme at the Constitution Club in Delhi. Among them were former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Choudhary, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha and Babulal Marandi, national president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha.

Yadav took the initiative to organise 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' (save composite culture) programme after he was expelled from the party by party president Nitish Kumar. The JD(U) party removed Sharad Yadav a couple of days ago, as its parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, when he continued his campaign against the Nitish Kumar’s decision to forge an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

That’s why the programme is seen as a protest against Nitish Kumar’s decision to realign with the BJP.

Yadav said he had also asserted that the composite culture of India is the preamble of Constitution which is under threat, therefore, it was important to launch the programme. He also asserted that, “This programme is in the interest of the country and not against the government." Meanwhile, JD(U) leaders have mocked the Sharad Yadav's 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' programme terming it as “reeks of hypocrisy”. JD(U) leader Ajay Alok said, “It feels weird to see Sharad Yadav's ethics taking a 180 degree turn. Thirty years ago, he had arranged a similar meeting to oppose the Congress, and now, Sharad Yadav is aligning with the Congress for the same meeting.”