NC, PDP attend meet
PATNA, June 23:
As many as 17 Opposition parties today resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the BJP and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences and will meet in Shimla next month to chalk out a joint strategy.
Addressing a joint press conference after an almost four-hour meeting during which leaders of these parties expressed their views, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said they will meet in the next few days to give final shape to their plan of fighting together.
“We had a good meeting and several leaders expressed their views during the meeting. Seventeen parties have decided to work together and contest the Lok Sabha elections unitedly,” he told reporters.
The meeting is viewed as a starting point for Opposition unity ahead of Lok Sabha polls to unitedly take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP.
Kumar, who hosted the meeting, said they were working in the national interest and accused the BJP of acting against the country’s interest as it was trying to change India’s history.
Sources said differences emerged between the AAP and the Congress after Arvind Kejriwal insisted that the grand old party should make its stand public on the Delhi ordinance failing which it would not be possible for his party to attend future meetings of the Opposition.
“The black ordinance is anti-constitutional, anti-federalism, and outright undemocratic… Congress’ hesitation and refusal to act as a team player, especially on an issue as important as this one, would make it very difficult for the AAP to be a part of any alliance that includes Congress,” the AAP said in a statement.
“Until the Congress publicly denounces the black ordinance and declares that all 31 of its RS MPs will oppose the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant,” it added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that the next meeting would be held in Shimla next month.
“We have decided to prepare a common agenda and will take decisions in the next meeting on how to move forward,” he said.
“We will have to evolve separate plans for every state and we will work together to dethrone the BJP at the Centre,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “We may have some differences but have decided to work together with flexibility and will work to protect our ideology”.
As many as 32 leaders of these parties participated in the meeting at the Bihar Chief Minister’s 1, Aney Marg, residence here.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said the first meet was organised in Patna as “Whatever starts from Patna, takes the shape of the public movement”.
“If this dictatorial Government (NDA) returns this time, there will be no elections in future,” she said.
“We all are united and will fight unitedly against BJP,” she said and added that “the BJP wants to change history but we’ll ensure that history is saved”.
Banerjee also asserted that they were not opposition parties but citizens of the country who are patriotic and love ‘Bharat Mata’.
She said the BJP wants history to be changed but asserted that the Opposition will ensure that history is saved. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said just like the JP movement, “our united front will get the blessings of the public”.
“The message from Patna meeting is clear for all of us that we need to work together to save the country,” said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav who thanked all the leaders for making it for the meeting.
Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren said today’s beginning will prove to be a milestone for the country and all leaders will move together with a positive thinking.
RJD supremo and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad said people of the country “want us to fight unitedly” against the BJP and the RSS.
“Prime Minister Modi is distributing sandalwood in the US when the country is facing problems,” he said, asserting that “I am fit now and can take on him”.
“We have to fight together. People of the country used to say that votes got divided as the opposition did not fight together,” he said, alleging that the country is on the verge of breaking.
“Bajrang Bali is with us….The BJP and Narendra Modi will face tough times ahead,” he said.
Lalu also jokingly told Rahul Gandhi to get married, saying there is still time left, with Gandhi responding, “It will happen since you have said.”
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said the main issue is to protect the character of our secular democratic country which the “BJP wants to change”.
CPI leader D Raja alleged that BJP’s nine-year rule has become “disastrous and detrimental” to the Constitution of our country.
“We can’t let Gandhi’s India to become Godse’s country,” PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said after the meeting.
The India of Mahatma Gandhi cannot be allowed to become of a country of his assassin Nathuram Godse, PDP leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said after a meeting of some opposition parties here today.
Another former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, said these parties have come together “not for power, but for principles” and to keep democracy alive in this country.
In her remarks, Mehbooba, the People’s Democratic Party president, said, “We can’t let Gandhi’s India become Godse’s country…. We feel that Jammu and Kashmir is the supporter and votary of the idea of India. Our attempt will be to ensure that Gandhi’s nation does not become Godse’s country.”
She alleged the country is witnessing how minorities are being treated and how democracy is being undermined, and added the opposition parties have come together to counter that.
In his address to the press, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the 17 parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have come together “not for power, but for principles”.
“We have come together to save the country from disaster, pull it out of trouble and to keep democracy alive in this country,” he said.
The credit for the success of today’s meeting goes to Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar as it is not easy to bring together so many leaders.
“It is not more important as to who is not there than those who are present here,” he said.
“This is not a battle for power that we are fighting, but of ideals and ideology. This is a battle of thought and to save the country,” he added. (PTI)
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