V P Singh launches 'Jan Morcha', Raj Babbar national President

New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today formed a new political outfit the 'Jan Morcha', to be headed by suspended Samajwadi Party MP Raj Babbar, which will fight for the rights of farmers and women.

As a first step, the Morcha will organise a protest rally --'Dera Daalo, Ghera Daalo' programme-- in Lucknow on May 29 against the state government's policies towards the weaker sections of the society and also the growing lawlessness and corruption.

''Mr Babbar will be national president of the party, which is the political wing of the 'Kissan Manch' formed a few years ago,'' Mr Singh told reporters at a press conference at his residence here.

Mr Singh is the President of the 'Kisan Manch'.

The 'Jan Morcha' will contest polls with other like-minded parties, and fight for the rights of farmers, youth, women and other deprived sections, he said.

''The Morcha's first target will be Uttar Pradesh, slated to go to assembly polls early next year,'' he said.

He said the CPI and the CPI(M) had extended support to the Morcha and talks were on with the Rashtriya Lok Dal to join it.

The former Prime Minister was flanked at the press conference by Mr Babbar and representatives of other smaller parties who have extended their support to the initiative.

The Uttar Pradesh unit of the RJD, the National Loktantra Party, Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party and others are part of the Morcha.

Mr Singh said a meeting of the 'Kisan Manch' yesterday decided that its representatives must contest polls in state assemblies and Parliament to effectively raise issues.

''For some time, the Manch has been struggling for the problems faced by farmers, weavers, labourers, youths, women and unemployment... Therefore, it has decided to have a political branch and its name would be 'Jan Morcha','' he added.

''Poor people are being targeted wherever they live... They are being displaced in urban as well as rural areas and no political party has taken up their issues seriously. The Morcha will fight for them,'' he said.

Mr Babbar claimed that the people trying to form the 'Third Front' were only interested in pushing the ''capitalist agenda'' and not fighting for the poor and the deprived.

''Members in the National Democratic Alliance must also come and join the Morcha,'' he said.

Mr Vinod Kumar, National General Secretary of the Kisan Manch, would be the 'Jan Morcha' Convenor.

The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Morcha, to be headed by Mr Dal Shingar Yadav, was also announced.

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