Leaders of several opposition parties have called for a united fight to defend the country's composite culture, which they alleged was facing threat under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.
Speaking at the 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' (save our composite culture) event, organised by the Congress's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam last night, they unleashed a stinging attack on the government and wanted all like-minded parties to join hands to defend the basic tenets and values of the nation.
Rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav presided over the meeting. Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma were among the other leaders present at the event.
Anand Sharma dubbed the GST rollout as "tax terrorism" and said demonetisation had broken the back of the people.
Also Read: GST Unleashed Tsunami Of Tax Terror, Says Rahul Gandhi
GST is nothing but a new tax terrorism. Earlier, demonetisation broke the back of the people, which later proved to be a complete fiasco and failureAnand Sharma, Senior Congress Leader
Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary, president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Babu Lal Marandi, JD(U) leader Ali Anwar, Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, state Congress president Ashok Chavan, Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra president Abu Asim Azmi, MP Raju Shetti and RJD leader Jay Prakash Yadav also attended the programme.
Our Constitution is in danger as the BJP-led government is playing with its very basic tenets. If we all fight unitedly, then the BJP can be dumped in the Arabian Sea in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.Jay Prakash Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal Leader
Jay Prakash Yadav also called upon the people to observe a 'black day' on November 8 to mark the first anniversary of demonetisation.
"First, they brought note-bandi and one year later when we are observing 'Black Day', they (BJP) are going to observe 'anti-black money day'. Are they not admitting that note-bandi has completely failed and this is why they are going to observe 'anti-black money day'?" he asked.
Sanjay Nirupam, the convenor of 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' in Mumbai, said the event would set the stage for opposition unity.
Sitaram Yechury said it was a matter of serious concern that the composite heritage of the country was now under threat.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
