‘Janata Parivar’ ups ante against Modi govt

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 22

The constituents of the erstwhile Janata Parivar today upped the ante against the ruling BJP at the Centre and its saffron affiliates on the issue of religious conversions and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the “sincerity” of his poll promises of good governance, black money and creation of job opportunities.

A dharna was organised by the Samajwadi Party, the RJD, the JD(U), the JD(S), the INLD and the Samajwadi Janata Party to highlight the alleged “failures” of the BJP-led NDA government.

It was claimed that the dharna, which was presided over by the Samajwadi Party chief and former UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, was a precursor to the proposed merger of the six parties to float a new political out to counter the resurgent BJP.

The proceedings were dominated by Samajwadi Party activists.

Addressing the gathering, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda of the JD(S) said campaign must be launched soon to oust the BJP from power.

“Modi does not know who we are. Time will tell who is afraid of whom”, Lalu Prasad said while alleging that the BJP has spread canards that the proposed merger of the Janata Parivar constituents was due to existential threat faced from it.

The Bihar strongman alleged that Modi sold a dream to the public to become Prime Minister. He chided the public for being gullible.

“Where are the jobs promised to the youths; where is the black money stashed abroad which Modi promised to bring back to the country and distribute it among the people?” he asked.

Coming down hard on president of the AIMIM and MP Asadhuddin Owaisi for his recent criticism of Mulayam Singh, Lalu said: “Owaisi is a stooge of the RSS.”

President of JD(U) Sharad Yadav and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar alleged that although the Modi had sought votes on the promise of development and good governance, Hindu fundamentalists have come to rule after he became Prime Minister.