People living in fear, will fight to save composite culture: Sharad Yadav

Days after he was removed as the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha, former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav on Wednesday said that people are "living in fear" and the Constitution of the country is being "tinkered with".

Yadav also announced that the Opposition will hold 'Sajha Virasat Bachao' (Save Composite Culture) conferences across the country -- to be coordinated by him -- starting from Delhi on Thursday.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would be participating in the programme.

Yadav said although the preamble of the Constitution speaks of securing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for all citizens but "what is happening in the present India is totally reverse" and that people are "living in fear".

Asked if he meant that after Narendra Modi came to power the Constitution was in danger, the Rajya Sabha member said, "I think the Constitution is being tinkered with from here and there."

Elaborating on the Sajha Virasat Bachao' conference, he said "Apart from leaders of all Opposition parties, intellectuals, farmers, unemployed youth, Dalits and tribals from all parts of the country will be participating."

He said that JD-U President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also been invited to participate.

The Nitish faction sacked Sharad Yadav as its Rajya Sabha leader last week for opposing the party's alliance with the BJP.

The Congress on Wednesday blamed the BJP government for destroying the "composite culture" of the country and said that the conference organised by Sharad Yadav would help in upholding it.

"Our country is known for its composite culture, which is in danger. The BJP and its allies are working 24 hours to destroy the composite culture," senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

--IANS

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