RJD takes lesson from Mayawati's social engineering

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) Taking a leaf from BSP supremo Mayawati's political master stroke of 'social engineering' that made her UP Chief Minister for a fourth time, the RJD today urged socially backwards, Dalits, minorities and progressive upper castes to join hands to usher in an era of social justice and equality.

A political resolution to woo the upper castes, Muslims and the backwards was passed to the effect at the day-long deliberations of the party National Executive at the Parliament Annexe. Over 250 delegates from as many as 23 states and some union territories attended the discussions, chaired by party chief Lalu Prasad.

Briefing newspersons, party Vice-President Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, however, pooh-poohed the new front of the regional parties, rubbishing it as ''a non-entity'' and that it won't last long to defend the rights of farmers, the downtrodden, Dalits and minorities.

''This is a conglomerate of the rejected leadership,'' Mr Singh, flanked by party Secretary General Ramdev Bhandari, who is also the party floor leader in the Rajya Sabha, said when asked by newspersons how relevant was the emergence of the recent political grouping comprising the AIADMK, SP, AGP, TDP and INLD and other smaller parties.

Party Ministers, MPs, MLAs and state and district representatives also resolved to intensify their efforts to upgrade the party at national level and had chosen Nagaland and other eastern parts for the purpose.

'' We already have a sound base in Bihar, Jharkhand and Manipur, but we have now chosen Nagaland so that we achieve the target of six per cent of the total votes polled during the general elections to get the status of a national party,'' said Mr Prasad.

The party had its base in as many as 23 states and some union territories, the RJD leaders said, adding that the eight-page resolution passed at the NE, focused on broadening the party base by 'Sangharsh and Sangathan Abhiyan'( Struggle for people's issues and building party organisation) on the Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, the Bharat Nirman, Right to Information, Health Mission. Sarvashiksha Abhiyan and National Social Assistance schemes.

They said the party would also launch a struggle against communalism and fight for the rights of Dalits, minorities and implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations.

The RJD also announced that the party's National Executive would be held at Sarnath on August 25 and a massive rally organised in Patna on November 4.

They said the party favoured that the ongoing talks on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal should defend the country's interests and that the government should not acquire land for SEZs from farmers.

'' Direct negotiations should take place and that too about barren land.'' UNI KSA RL RP HT1915