LEADERS of several Opposition parties on Monday stressed unity within the INDIA bloc and called for the need to safeguard democratic values and address issues related to people’s livelihood as a key meeting of the grouping got underway here on Monday. Several top leaders of the Opposition alliance met here at the Constitution Club in the backdrop of differences emerging among some of its constituents. Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Yadav of RJD, Omar Abdullah of National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, besides Left leaders attended the meeting. NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, CPI’s D Raja and leaders of some smaller parties were also part of the deliberations.

 

Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray attended the meeting virtually. current economic situation” in the country, besides unemployment, price rise, issues of farmers and oppressed sections of society. He said the leaders of the Opposition grouping also decided to meet every two months and the next meeting would be held in Hyderabad in August. He said the date would be fixed at a later date. “A total of 25 parties participated in the INDIA bloc meeting and all the leaders aired their views. We have expressed our agreement on five issues. “It was agreed to send a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) on SIR, vote loot and stealing of elections. The letter will be delivered to the CJI very soon,” the Congress president told the media. He was flanked by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders of the grouping.

 

“It was unanimously agreed to demand the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan because he presided over the betrayal of lakhs of youth who appeared in the NEET and CBSE examinations,” he said. Kharge also stated that the Union Government should immediately call an all-party meeting to discuss the precarious economic situation, unemployment, price rise and farmers issues, besides other issues including atrocities on the oppressed sections of society. “The INDIA bloc leaders decided to continue meeting for smooth coordination during the Monsoon session and as usual they would meet in the chamber of leader of opposition,” he said. Kharge said all the leaders aired their views freely, while Shiv Sena-UBT’s Uddhav Thackeray and JMM’s Hemant Soren joined the opposition meeting virtually.