Left, SP, BSP Skip Delhi March, But Congress Insists Opposition is United

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday asserted that the opposition was united against the Modi government but the Left, BSP and Samajwadi Party skipped the oppositions show of strength here during the Bharat Bandh. The Left, the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had endorsed the Congress-called nationwide shutdown over rising fuel prices but skipped a foot march in the national capital in which a host of opposition leaders took part. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had earlier said it won’t join the Bandh, supported the protest but clarified that it should not be construed as supporting the Congress. The march saw the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav among others. The Congress refused to read much into the absence of the Left, BSP and Samajwadi Party at its show.

“While 21 parties supported the Bandh, 16 representatives of different political parties and leaders sat on the dharna and walked alongside Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,” Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told the media. “Our friends (CPI and CPI-M) decided to have a protest at Jantar Mantar while SP and BSP communicated us they will hold protests in Uttar Pradesh,” he said. (IANS)