Oppn leaders meet to forge a united front to fight BJP
New Delhi: Top leaders of over a dozen opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC met here Monday as part of attempts to forge a
united front to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) skipped the meeting held on the eve of the winter session of Parliament starting Tuesday.
The meeting held in Parliament annexe also comes a day ahead of the results of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram Assembly polls.
"Keeping aside our all political differences, we have come together to save India and our democracy by defeating BJP government at the Centre. The meeting was historical and coming together is a democratic compulsion for all of us," said N Chandrababu Naidu, who anchored the show, after Opposition meet.
While addressing media persons, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "In the middle of the meeting we were told that the BJP/RSS agenda is progressing and that RBI governor has resigned. There was a consensus that we will work together to defeat BJP/RSS."
Commenting on the RBI governor's resignation, Rahul said, "What is happening that the government is getting desperate. RBI governor was not able to function, so the RBI governor resigned as he was protecting the RBI. Taking away reserves from RBI to save your skin is an act against this nation. I'm very proud that people from all walks of life and institutions are standing up to it."
"India needs a government that is not mired in rank corruption and loot of people's resources, a government which does not attack the entire banking system through
insurmountable NPA's benefitting crony capitalists," Rahul said.
In response to SP and BSP leaders skipping the opposition meet, Rahul said, "This is not an end to the talks. We will try to get them on board". Notably, both the parties had informed in advance about their 'decision' to skip the meet.
During the opposition meeting, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that he was in agreement with all the issues discussed at the meet and the time has come to get united against BJP. Kejriwal attended at the invitation of the TDP chief.
During the discussion, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who was accompanied by his party MPs Manoj Jha and Jayprakash Yadav, suggested to Congress that regional parties with 'strong' presence should be at the 'driving seat' to boost Opposition unity.
Among those who attended the meeting were UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, TMC president Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK leaders MK Stalin and Kanimozhi, JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, LJD leader Sharad Yadav, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, JJM's Hemant Soren, RLD's Ajit Singh, HAM Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM), JVM's Babu Lal Marandi, AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal.
It was preceded by parleys among leaders of opposition parties with Naidu meeting West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and DMK chief M K Stalin holding talks with AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
