Opposition kick-starts 'freedom struggle' against BJP

At a conference in Mumbai, on Friday, leaders from various opposition parties once again tried to portray a united front as they continued with their attack against the ruling BJP.

Mumbai, Oct 28: At a day-long conference in Sion, Mumbai, on Friday, leaders from various opposition parties once again tried to portray a united front as they continued with their attack against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The conference, "Sanjhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan (save composite culture conference)", an initiative of Sharad Yadav, the leader of breakaway faction of Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), is not only an attempt to "protect the composite culture of India", but a "freedom struggle" against the BJP.

Along with Yadav, several prominent opposition leaders, including Sitaram Yechury from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Anand Sharma and Ashok Chavan from the Congress, D Raja from the Communist Party of India (CPI), Tariq Anwar from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Jaiprakash Yadav from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Jayant Choudhari from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Abu Azmi from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Sukhendu Shekhar Roy of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghathana, took part in the meeting.

Speaking at the conference, Yadav accused the Narendra Modi government of adopting the British policy of "divide and rule".

"They are dividing our country in the name of religion. The country has never faced a crisis like this ever in the past seventy years. But this won't happen if we stay united, the BJP rule will end too. The so-called gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes) and other goons of this government are not just lynching people but our Constitution. It's time we stand united to save our Constitution, to save Indian values," Yadav added.

The Sanjhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan is a part of the opposition parties' sustained campaign against the BJP.

The conference was previously hosted in Delhi, Indore and Jaipur. After Mumbai, similar programmes will be held across the country.

Yechury attacked the BJP government over the demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Yechury alleged the BJP government has spread "tax terrorism" in the country in the name of "useless economic policies". "By demonetising old notes, they (the BJP) managed to turn black money into white. Those who held this money will now get interest on them. The Modi government has saved banks from going bankrupt due to non-payment of loans by business tycoons. On the other side, they have spread tax terrorism in the name of GST."

Yadav also took a dig at PM Modi. He said, "This man does not get tired of delivering speeches, he can speak endlessly. Till date the Modi government has done everything but the promises they made to the people of India are still not fulfilled. Imagine the state of the country where a government threatens to go on strike."

Yadav alleged the BJP is spreading a canard that the people of India have no other alternative.

"Modi has forgotten one rule of democracy that not him but the people of this country are the rulers. If they can vote for him, they can vote against him. The BJP had earned only 31 per cent vote, remaining 69 per cent were bagged by the united opposition. If we stay together, we can get BJP out," said Yadav.

The Opposition reiterated its plan to hold a silent march as a part of its protest against the demonetisation on November 8. It will be one year since demonetisation was announced by PM Modi on November 8.

The Opposition is going to observe November 8 as a "black day", whereas the BJP is going to celebrate the day as an "anti-black money day".

OneIndia News