All secular forces fight against 'divisive policies': SP

Kochi, Mar 31 (UNI) Samajwadi Party (SP) President Mulayam Singh Yadav today called upon all the secular forces to fight against 'divisive policies' of certain parties and provide justice to the backward and marginalised sections of the society.

Addressing a gathering at the 'Social Justice Meet', oragnised under the aegis of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Abdul Nasar Madani here, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said ''the country will not develop unless and until the marginalised sections of the society were uplifted, farmers' problems solved, women empowered and poverty wiped out.'' The present polices of the UPA Government were anti-poor, he alleged.

The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), of which he is the Chairman, said ''UNPA is an embodiment of regional parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and it works for the benefit of the common man.'' Mr Yadav alleged that the BJP and RSS were a waning force in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, SP General Secretary Amar Singh said ''it was an irony that even after five decades of the country attaining Independence, the minorities were being denied their rights and viewed with suspicion.'' Appreciating the efforts of Mr Madani to host such an event for providing social justice to all, Mr Singh said ''no political party in Kerala and in the other parts of the country could undermine the determination and secular outlook of Mr Madani who stood for the common man.'' Exhorting the efforts of his party chief, he said ''Mr Yadav is instrumental in uprooting the Hindutva lab in Uttar Pradesh.'' Mr Madani said the event was a major milestone in providing social justice to minorities, especially when the Muslim community was in a cloud of doubt.

UNI MA GKT MIR DB2142