Sharad’s show of strength today

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 16

In a show of strength, estranged JD-U leader Sharad Yadav has convened a meeting of like-minded parties under banner “Sajha Virasat Bachao Sammelan” which is aimed at thwarting the forces destroying the “composite culture” of the country.

With leaders of all anti-BJP political parties such as the Congress, Left, TMC, BSP and others likely to attend the meeting, Yadav said: “There would be hardly anybody from the Opposition who will not come.”

It is generally seen as the show of strength by Yadav for his decision to part ways with long-time associate and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who in dramatic turn of event chose to ally with BJP recently.

Asserting that “composite culture” was the soul of the Constitution, which was being “tinkered with”, Yadav said he planned to hold such meetings across the country.

Refusing to answer questions on his disapproval of Kumar’s alliance with the BJP, he said the decision to hold tomorrow’s event was taken weeks ago, when his party was with the loose Opposition group.

“The ‘Sajha Virasat Bachao Sammelan’ (save composite culture programme) is not against anybody but in the interest of the country. This is in the interest of 125 crore people of the country,” Yadav said.

The old-guard of Indian politics cited incidents of Rohith Vemula’s suicide and JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s disappearance, besides farmers’ suicides to suggest that the situation was tough for underprivileged people.