TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Feb 1, 2018, 22:33 IST
HIGHLIGHTS
- The remark came during a meeting of opposition leaders to plan a joint strategy for the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.
- The meeting was attended by former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and other leaders from the opposition parties
NEW DELHI: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today urged the opposition parties to adopt a common strategy to take on the BJP and work together on issues of national importance, reported ANI.
"Need to work together on issues of national importance, adopt common strategy both inside and outside Parliament," said Sonia Gandhi.
The UPA chairperson's comment came during a meeting of opposition leaders to plan a joint strategy for the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.
The meeting, held at the Parliament Library Building, is seen as part of efforts to galvanise support of all 17 parties which had come together during the presidential and vice presidential polls against the ruling party.
Senior Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was one of the attendees of the meeting, dismissed speculations that the meeting was a precursor to UPA-III, saying there is only a broad consensus among the non-NDA parties to oust the present government.
Azad said that Gandhi cautioned the opposition leaders against the ideology of hate and communal and caste violence.
Gandhi also raised the issue of "Aadhaar misuse" by the Narendra Modi government to "breach" privacy of citizens. She said Aadhaar was meant for welfare schemes but is being misused by the government.
"She also raised the issue of economic health of the country, which she said, remained precarious.
"Another point she raised was that of unemployment which is a matter of great concern for the entire nation and the government is not doing anything in this regard," Azad said.
Gandhi said the price rise of the essential commodities in general and of petrol, diesel and gas in particular is another matter of great concern for the nation.
Azad said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi also stressed that although in different states different parties are in power or in opposition and is a clash of interests is bound to be there, but "when the states issue would emerge then we would find a solution to that".
"But as an opposition we are whole then those who are not in NDA, that means those who do not follow the NDA's ideology and they would want that the government should go out. And for that we shall work together," Azad reported Rahul Gandhi as saying.
Azad said a group of seven parties has already been formed and it would decide the future course of action.
The meeting was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, senior party leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge; NCP chief Sharad Pawar; National Conference president Farooq Abdullah; RJD's Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, TMC's Derek O'Brien, CPI national secretary D Raja and SP's Ramgopal Yadav.
(With agencies inputs)