Ousted from the JD-U, Sharad Yadav may be on extensive nationwide tour ahead of 2019 lok Sabha elections but the task to bring differing parties together is a big challenge, he feels. looking at their differencing voices and regional aspirations the veteran socialist leader at the same time also sees the time is rife for the exhaustive exercise.
Yadav, who was in Ranchi to meet jailed RJD chief lalu Prasad Yadav and several others, hit out the present dispensations at the Center and well as in Jharkhand for their ‘anti-constitutional’ acts and policies.
“The Constitution is under distress like never before and country is stranded in a very precarious situation. The only thing that can take the country out from the situation like this is unification of the parties in Opposition and I am here for that only. Though, I understand that the task to bring all of them together is a big challenge,” said the suspended Rajya Sabha MP on Monday.
Earlier he met lalu Yadav in jail to discuss the scope of Opposition unity. His meeting with JVM chief Babulal Marandi before that was also in that direction. Sharad Yadav while refusing to divulge more about what transpired into the meetings, which he termed as exhaustive exercise thanks to deliberate obstruction posed on the Government’s behest, said that everything would be played out in time.
“I think this is not right time and place to reveal much about the deliberations have happened for Opposition’s unity. But all remained unanimous to form a Bihar-like grand alliance for the country ahead of the next lok Sabha polls. How to do that it is a work under progress,” said the former JD-U president to the media persons.
Flanked by Jharkhand RJD chief Annapurna Devi and host of other leaders from the lalu’s party, Yadav counted issues of farmer suicides, attacks of minorities and failed promises of the BJP Government to present a sense of unease across the country.
“They had made three main promises before coming to power in 2014; none of those has seen light of the day. Where are one crore jobs every year, where are 15 lakh rupees, where farmers’ income has been doubledIJ Instead they have gone for cow protection, demonetisation and useless Startup and Mudra schemes. Situation is that MSME, real estate, agriculture; all have crumbled,” said the leader.
He also questioned recent announcement about universal health insurance scheme in the Budget and asked the Government to come up with road map of the programme. “I support the initiative but the Government has made provision of only Rs 2000 crore for this. Facts are also coming that the scheme would be launched only in three States first up. Also, States are to contribute and if any State refuses to do so then what would happen,” asked Yadav.
At the same time, he also rapped the State Government for its pro-corporate policies, CNT-SPT amendments and changes into the land Acquisition Act, 2013 while referring it for working on the directions coming from Delhi. He also congratulated the Opposition parties for forcing the State Government to roll back some of the decisions.