While the government struggled to run Parliament smoothly, leaders of different socialist political parties converged to announce their merger into a singular entity representing the Janata Parivar at a public meeting on the road leading to Parliament on Monday afternoon.
The new formation avowed to lead the opposition charge against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in New Delhi and block the party’s ascent in the States.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav, Janata Dal United leaders Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav and Janata Dal Secular supremo H.D. Deve Gowda revived the bonhomie of the United Front days to signal a strengthened opposition force.
The leaders, one after another, targeted the Narendra Modi government for not fulfilling its promise of bringing back black money and creating jobs for youth. They also charged the BJP and the the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) for unleashing a communal agenda to divert attention from the government’s failures.
“We have had several rounds of meetings, including two formal meetings. The idea behind today’s mahadharna (mass protest) is to join our different parties and merge into one,” Mr. Kumar said, adding Mr. Mulayam was working out the “modalities” of creating a single party.
“Seven months since the government was formed and they have forgotten all promises.” He added. He played two different audio clips of Mr. Modi. One, from an election rally declaring that every poor person in the country would get Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 Lakh and another from one of his radio addresses after becoming the Prime Minister in which Mr. Modi said he did not know how much black money from India was there in foreign lands.
“Their organisations are creating a divide among the people. One group wants to install Godse’s statue, another wants to organise ghar wapsi …these are all attempts to divide society and divert attention,” Mr. Kumar added.
Mr. Yadav attacked the BJP and the RSS on the recent incidents of conversion. “They say all those who are not Hindus should become Hindu. Did Modi say it when he sought votes in the election?” Mr. Yadav asked. “How many votes have you got? 31 per cent. You call 70 per cent Indians (who did not vote for the BJP) haramzade ?”
“Modi said he will bring Rs 26.5 lakh crore back to the country in a month. He promised two crore jobs,” Mr. Prasad said.
Mr. Mulayam said the fight against the BJP would be carried forward by the youth. “It is very heartening to see so many young people here. If the youth don’t want it, a government cannot survive,” he said. He charged the BJP and other organisations with “conspiring to cause communal riots”.
