21 secular parties resolve to work together to defeat BJP
A resolution unanimously adopted by leaders of 21 ‘secular parties’ who assembled here on Monday to build an anti-BJP front vowed ‘to confront and defeat the forces that are subverting our Constitution and making a mockery of our democracy’ and not what kind of government India needs today.
Promising to lay before people a comprehensive programme of work anchored in complete transparency and accountability, it called upon “all liberal, progressive and secular forces to join us in the battle to save the Constitution, to protect parliamentary democracy, to preserve the freedom to think, speak and write as a free people, to strengthen the bonds of our unity while celebrating our diversity and to retrieve, repair and rebuild the economy”.
“It is in the interests of safeguarding and strengthening our Constitutional Republic and People ‘s livelihood that this RSS/BJP government is ousted."
The leaders, in a statement, said India needs a government that cares for working class, farmers and is always sensitive to the enormous pain that they and their families are going through.
They also envisage an India that makes education accessible and affordable to all sections of the people and fulfils the aspirations of youth for decent and secure jobs that provide fair wages to the employed.
The statement said they will empower the weaker sections of society – scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, women and minorities – to lead a life of complete security and dignity.
The leaders said they aim a truthful government that does not propagate falsehoods and does not make bogus claims, that steadfastly follows Constitutional values and conventions in letter and spirit, that respects the autonomy of institutions, and that will banish the current all-pervasive atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
They dream of a country where harassment of businessmen and industrialists would end and the spirit of enterprise must be allowed full freedom, the statement said.
The resolution also referred to "innumerable deficiencies, failures and plausible doubts on the neutral functionality of EVM''s per se raising a question on the neutrality of poll process itself."