JD(S) asks non-BJP, non-Congress parties to come together

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (S) today asked all socialist and secular non-BJP and non-Congress forces to unite and along with Left and like-minded regional parties put up a platform to free the country from "intolerant and communal forces and their misrule."

The party's National Executive made the appeal, especially to the erstwhile Janata Parivar and socialist parties and factions, saying these democratic and secular forces should unite to defeat "communalism and BJP misrule" at the Centre and in several states.

"Intolerance is the identity and hallmark of Modi government and their organisation's past starts from Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and counter violence during partition .......," the party said.

"The functioning of the Prime Minister has left much to be desired and he treats parliament and other opposition parties with disdain, which is most irresponsible in a democratic country", JD-S National General Secretary Danish Ali told reporters on the resolutions adopted at the Executive meeting.

The Prime Minister "had not uttered" a word or taken a single step to arrest the activities of "communal fanatics" in creating an "atmosphere of insecurity to the citizens," it said.

The resolution alleged NDA government had not been able to take other opposition parties into confidence and conduct business in parliament and hadn't been able to pass GST Bill.

The meeting also passed economic resolutions including one seeking waiver of all kinds of agricultural loans up to Rs 2 lakh availed by small and marginal farmers from various financial institutions, Ali said.

The government should provide urgent interest-free agricultural loan, crop loan and agri-product loan up to Rs 2 lakh to all categories of farmers, he said.