Prez polls: Oppn bats for common candidate
the upcoming Presidential elections as an “acid test” for Opposition unity, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury emphasised the need for non-NDA parties to ensure the victory of a candidate who can uphold the Constitution in letter and in spirit.
Yechury’s call found several takers, as leaders of many parties pitched for a common candidate at a conclave of Opposition parties convened on Monday to mark the 95th birth anniversary of late socialist leader Madhu Limaye.
Chastened after the huge successes of the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and the Delhi municipal polls, Opposition leaders displayed rare bonhomie by making a combined appeal for unity to challenge the growth of the saffron party.
Among those who attended the Monday’s conclave included Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Digvijaya Singh (Congress), Atul Anjaan (CPI), DP Tripathi (NCP) and Danish Ali (JD-S).
Saying that today’s challenge was to build a narrative of “real nationalism” versus the “Hindutva nationalism” of the BJP, the CPM leader said the saffron party had brought about a fusion of its communal agenda with the developmental theme.
“Facts of the case are at variance from what the BJP propagates. “One per cent citizens held 49% of the country’s wealth when the BJP took office. The same one per cent today controls 58.5% of the wealth. The rich have been getting richer. The Opposition parties need to build an effective counter narrative”, Yechury said.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the Opposition campaign should be centered on a “positive narrative”. The “Grand Alliance” idea must be pursued as a war of ideologies, rather than being focused on personalities”, he said.
Saying that the phase of “antiCongressism” was over, Singh said that just two ideologies were today relevant: “The fascist, communal ideology versus the secular, democratic ideals”.
Former JD (U) President Sharad Yadav said there was a need to aggressively push for “inclusive political ideologies” at a time when minorities across the country were feeling insecure.
Universities and other educational institutes across country will now have a “wall of heroes” depicting portraits of warriors.
As part of the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry’s Vidya, Veerta Abhiyan, minister Prakash Javadekar will launch portraits of Param Veer Chakradecorated soldiers at an event on Tuesday.
“To begin with, vice chancellors of JNU, DU, Jamia Milia Islamia and IIT Delhi will receive the portraits from the minister,” said a senior official.
A campaign will also be launched to have a ‘wall of heroes’ at various educational institutions depicting the portraits of war warriors decorated with Param Veer Chakra, the official said.
The idea of having the wall was first proposed by a group of ex-servicemen who had last year approached JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, saying it would instil a sense of “nationalism” and “patriotism” among students.