Nitish, Mulayam, Lalu share dais, slam PM Modi

New Delhi, Dec 22: Pitching for larger Opposition unity, six constituents of the erstwhile Janata Parivar on Monday shared dais at a "Mahadharna" slamming BJP's "divisive" politics and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "telling lies" and "not fulfilling" poll promises on black money.

Leaders of the splinter groups including SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar called for "sinking old prejudices" and promised to "script a new story" in the Indian politics by ousting BJP.

Tariq Anwar and D P Tripathi from the NCP also shared the dais while Mamata Banerjee sent a letter of support to the leaders through Derek 'O' Brien, who however did not turn up at the venue.

The agitation programme, which saw the attendance of former Prime Minister H D Devegowda of JD (S), Dushyant Chautala of Indian National Lok Dal and SJP's Kamal Morarka is being dubbed as the "first solid step" towards the merger of the parties.

The leaders recalled that the Janata Parivar had formed three governments in alliance in the past and reminded Modi dispensation that they have got "only 31 percent of votes" and will have to "go back" if they did not fulfil the promises.

"From our identities as separate parties, we have to merge in a single party. An agreement has been reached on this. Mulayam Singh has to work out the modalities. Let us take a vow now.

"...We should contact even others. Let us make a comprehensive Opposition. We should all come together. Setting aside our prejudices, we want to form a strong Opposition," Kumar said.

Attacking the government on several issues, Lalu Prasad said, "an attempt is being made to persistently target Mamata Banerjee". He said that while people talk about the differences between him and Nitish Kumar, "we have come together now".

Humming a Hindi film song, he said that it's time to forget things of the past and they will script a new chapter now. Playing audio clips of previous speeches of Modi, the then BJP President Rajnath Singh and Baba Ramdev about bringing back black money, Kumar, Prasad, Sharad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav asked "what happened to the promise that Rs 15 lakh will reach the pockets of the poor once black money is brought back."

"You should ask every BJP leader whether they will give you the money in cash or cheque. It is most unfortunate that the Prime Minister of the country is telling lies," Kumar said.

He asked Modi to "fulfil the promises that you had made. Otherwise, you will have to vacate the chair and go back."

PTI