The Congress’s plan to create a larger platform of secular parties against the Narendra Modi Government doesn’t seem to be working.
Compelling necessityApart from the Congress leaders, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and KC Tyagi, CPI secretaries D Raja and Atul Kumar Anjaan and representatives from NCP and RJD attended the function. Inaugurating the two-day international conference, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “There can be no Indianness, no India without secularism....secularism was and remains more than an ideal. It is a compelling necessity for a country as diverse as India,” she said.
The other parties, who attended the gathering, however, are not much impressed by the Congress’s efforts. “We have attended because it is the 125{+t}{+h} birth anniversary of Nehru. We recognise the key contributions made by Nehru in making India a secular State. Among all other leaders, it was Nehru who fought and established the need for a secular foundation for the modern India. He made immense contributions in establishing Parliamentary democracy. This is a legacy which we also appreciate. Beyond this nothing much should be read,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told
He said it was Communists who were the principal opposition to the Nehru Government since 1952. “We have been consistent critics of the Congress rule in the decades after independence. Our opposition and contest with the Congress as far programmes and policies will continue,” Karat said and added that Nehru has been ill-served by the Congress subsequently.
JD(U) has formed an alliance with the Congress in Bihar against the BJP. The NCP has helped the BJP to win majority in Maharashtra Assembly.