New Delhi: In a show of strength, rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav today gathered Opposition parties to launch an offensive against the NDA government’s ”divisive policies which were striking at the root of the country’s composite culture” at a ‘Sanjhi Virasat Bachao’ (Save the composite culture) rally here.
The Modi Government faced a volley of attacks from Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Sitaram Yechury who accused it of dividing the country and instilling fear among minority communities and dalits by not doing anything to stop mob lynching, and also of having failed on the economic front too.
The BJP described today’s conclave as gathering of parties that were losing the battle against the growing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s ever growing strength in states.
The rally was also attended by senior leaders like former prime minister Manmohan Singh, leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, CPI leader D Raja, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babu Lal Marandi etc
The leaders said that the divisive forces inside the country were capable of doing more harm to the country than any external enemy.
A call also came for the Opposition parties to chalk out an action plan to mobilize the people to save the cultural facbric of the country from being destroyed.
The RSS came under special attack of Mr Rahul Gandhi who said the Sangh was trying to impose its ideology on the 130 Crore people of different faiths, beliefs and cultures, and was making all attempts to change the Constitution.
He hit out at the Prime Minister, saying he wants ”swachch”(clean) bharat (India), but we want ”sach”(True) India.
Mr Yadav said in his speech underlined that the composite culture was a product of centuries of engagement of people of different communities of the country, which was unique and strength of India.
“It is this culture which some forces are trying to destroy and we are to save this culture. I am appealing to the youth to come out to save it,” the JD(U) leader asserted.
He also said that violence was being perpetrated in the country in the name of faith, religion and ‘Love Jehad’ which had put the diversity of the country under threat.
Mr Abdullah said forces within the country were more dangerous that China or Pakistan. He said he was proud to call himself an Indian Muslim, as Muslims fought for the independence of the country.
Coming to Kashmir, he said the Kashmiris were not fighting for Pakistan but for their rights within India. In 1947, Kashmir would have easily joined Pakistan, but its people chose to stay with India, he added.
Earlier, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the original JD(U) was with Mr Sharad Yadav, and what Nitish Kumar had was BJP (U).
After the meet, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad held a press conference at which he said those who participated in Sanjhi Virasat were afraid of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP which was ruling over a majority of states in the country.
Taking a dig at the JD-U rebel leader Sharad Yadav, Mr Prasad expressed surprise at Mr Yadav sharing dais with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi saying that Mr Yadav himself was once a strong critic of the grand old party.
Reacting to Mr Gandhi’s attack on RSS, Mr Prasad said the Congress Vice president knew nothing about the RSS.
The Opposition show comes ahead of August 19 meet at which the JDU) faction led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was going to formally announce its decision to join the NDA.
Mr Sharad Yadav has already been removed from the post of JD(U) leader in the Rajya Sabha for his staunch opposition to Nitish Kumar’s decision to part ways with the grand alliance and go into the shelter of the NDA, and going on a tour of the state seeking support against his party president’s decision. (UNI)
