'Undeclared Emergency' prevailing in country: JDS chief H D Deve Gowda

BENGALURU: Alleging that a situation like "undeclared Emergency" prevailed in the country, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda today said leaders of 'Janata Parivar' will meet during the Winter Session of Parliament in their efforts to build a "credible alternative" to take on BJP.

"...the earlier Janata Party was responsible to bring a secular government headed by Morarji Desai. Subsequently, due to various reasons, it was split. All the constituents of the Janata Party want to come together again to create a credible alternative...," Gowda told reporters here.

The former Prime Minister was responding to a question about the coming together of erstwhile 'Janata Parivar' leaders in the wake of their recent meeting.

Six political parties of the 'Janata parivar' had come together last week to present a united front against the government in the Winter Session of Parliament and they had not ruled out the possibility of a merger in the future to take on a resurgent BJP.

"My suggestion is...let Mulayam or someone head the party. I also requested them to contact Left parties, even Trianamool Congress, Anna DMK, Naveen Patnaik (BJD), and all those people who are interested to come into the fold so that we can create a strong alternative," Gowda said.

"I have also suggested that if Congress wants to support us, let them also come," he added.

JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, INLD's Dushyant Chautala and SJP's Kamal Morarka had come together at a lunch hosted by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on November 6.

Gowda said they will meet again during the winter session beginning from November 24 to chalk out their future plans.

Accusing BJP of using CBI in sending INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala to jail by cancelling his bail, he said, "Today there is a situation like undeclared Emergency in the country."

"....BJP is misusing the CBI, what they used to call Congress Bureau of Investigation...." he alleged.

Asked about the appointment of JD(S) state president, Gowda said, "Everything will get settled before November 15, I'm consulting all our party leaders...."

The post of JD(S) state president has been lying vacant since the death of A Krishnappa in April.