'Not A Setback': CPI's D Raja on AAP's stance After Opposition Unity Meet In Patna

Earlier on June 23, several Opposition parties and their leaders met in Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

New Delhi: Amid the rift between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress over the controversial Delhi ordinance, CPI general secretary D Raja has said that it was "not a setback" for Opposition unity. He asserted that as independent political parties there can be "small angularities" on certain matters but those were being overcome.

In an interview with PTI after the crucial Opposition meeting, he said that the leadership of the Opposition bloc was not an issue for now but the BJP was raising such matters as it was afraid of the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He asserted that the secular democratic parties that have come together are capable of taking a decision on any issue "collectively".

Earlier on June 23, several Opposition parties and their leaders met in Patna, the capital city of Bihar. For the last few months, Nitish Kumar has been making efforts to stitch an alliance of opposition parties to stop the BJP juggernaut led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.    

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the mega opposition meeting. However, AAP leaders were not present at the joint press conference held at the conclusion of the meeting.

Asked if it was a setback for Opposition unity, Raja said, "I don't think it is a setback. In fact, in a way it is positive also, one should take it like that because we are all independent political parties, there can be small angularities on certain issues…but we are overcoming those and we have agreed to come together."  "We all understand that the country is passing through challenges and the Constitution, democracy, secularism and diversity of the country are all under attack," he alleged.

On the BJP attacking the Opposition over its meeting and calling their coming together opportunistic, Raja claimed that ever since the people of Karnataka have given a verdict defeating the BJP, it has become desperate.  "The BJP is jittery and with every passing day their desperation is growing. They understand there is discontent across the country which is growing and the Karnataka election results mark the beginning of the defeat of the BJP at national level," he claimed.

Hitting out at the BJP for its 'marriage party without a bridegroom' jibe, Raja said it is an "absurd statement" that does not deserve a response.  "They should not stoop to such levels. The BJP should conduct its political polemics in a dignified way and not resort to such abuses and absurd comments to belittle the unity of the secular democratic parties," he said.

"Political parties are mature enough. We are discussing collectively, we will be able to discuss collectively who should head the government, right now these are not the issues and why is the BJP discussing such issues which we are not. It shows the desperation of the BJP and that it is afraid of the outcome of the forthcoming elections," he said.

When asked about the common agenda that the Opposition parties would prepare, Raja responded that it would be discussed and added that as a CPI person he would want the focus to be on addressing basic issues of livelihood of the people, alleged privatisation spree by the Centre and the BJP's "politics of polarisation".