M A I N   N E W S

14 political parties pledge to counter communal forces
Say not forging Third Front; Cong ally NCP part of group
KV Prasad/TNS

The stance they took Bihar CM Nitish Kumar called for unity among parties to collectively counter the threat posed by “fascism, communalism and terrorism” JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said his party might have charted a different political course, but when it came to combating communal forces it was one with the Samajwadi Party Communist leader AB Bardhan reminded the Samajwadi Party that its government in UP needed to create conditions conducive to the return of Muzaffarnagar riot-hit to their homes Manpreet Badal of the People’s Party of Punjab promised to work with parties rallying against divisive forces

New Delhi, October 30
Fourteen political parties across the non-BJP spectrum today shared a platform pledging to counter the rise of communal forces in the country. The parties, however, denied that there was an attempt to forge a national political alternative ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha poll.

The presence of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key ally sharing power in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, added spice to the initiative of the CPM-led Left parties and the Janata Dal (United), a recently estranged partner of the BJP-led NDA alliance.

Setting the tone at the Convention for People’s Unity and against Communalism, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called for unity among parties to collectively counter the threat posed by “fascism, communalism and terrorism”. Having begun the effort, he said, it should be taken to its logical conclusion.

Seeking to scotch the move as the creation of a new political front, Nitish said that was not the case, as of today. He preferred to explain the coming together of different political parties as an effort to combat and defeat forces advocating communalism.

Earlier at a party function, taking a dig at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Bihar CM scoffed at his ambition to speak from the ramparts of the Red Fort by creating a backdrop of the historical monument during a public rally.

JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said while the party might have charted a different political course, but when it came to combating communal forces it was one with the Samajwadi Party. SP supremo Mulayam Singh made a special gesture by greeting the JD-U chief halfway on the stage.

Veteran communist leader AB Bardhan, however, reminded the SP leader that their government in UP needed to create conditions conducive to the return of Muzaffarnagar riot-hit to their homes.