Sharad Yadav unites opposition parties in a show of strength against RSS-BJP

Bengaluru will host the next show of strength by Opposition on September 5 when Left parties are organising a conference on saving the 'composite culture' of the country.

The conference organised by CPI(M) and CPI will see the participation of "all secular parties" and could be seen as a follow up to the 'Save Composite Culture Conference' called by dissident JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.

A senior Left leader told DH that top leaders of all parties are expected to attend the conference in Bengaluru and highlight the threat posed by the RSS-BJP combine to the country.

The opposition getting together in Karnataka on a single platform would also come against the backdrop of the state witnessing Assembly elections in April-May next year though none are saying that it is a precursor to a united fight.

In the conference to be attended by CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Yadav and others, the leaders are also likely to highlight the rise in numbers of communal incidents in the state.

Among the 296 communal incidents reported this year till May, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in Parliament, Karnataka was ranked second on the list with 36 incidents after Uttar Pradesh, which accounted for 60. In UP, 16 people were killed and another 151 injured while in Karnataka three people lost their lives and another 93 were wounded.

The Left leader also pointed to the controversy surrounding Baba Budangiri shrine in Chikamagalur, saying all efforts are being made to create communal polarisation in the state.

Sharad Yadav himself had said that he would take the conference to other cities like Indore, Patna and Nagpur among others. A joint meeting of Opposition parties had also decided to organise programmes in cities other than Delhi.

However, the leader said such conferences alone would not work and what is needed is a people' struggle in the grassroots. “Alternative narrative against Narendra Modi can be built through people's struggle only,” he said.