Omar breaks bread with joint opposition

JAMMU: National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today attended a luncheon hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi where 17 opposition parties gathered to rally against the BJP led NDA government.
On the NDA government's third anniversary today, a united opposition said that if the ruling dispensation fails to come up with a consensus candidate with secular credentials for the presidential poll, it will field someone who shall "steadfastly defend" the country's constitutional values.
At a luncheon hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, leaders of 17 parties including some traditional arch-rivals broke bread and flexed muscles while attacking the NDA government's policies. Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference recently fought Lok Sabha by-election in alliance with the Congress, was conspicuous by his presence.
Apart from Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Congress was represented by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders Ahmed Patel, A K Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad besides Mallikarjun Kharge.
After the meeting, Azad and Sharad Yadav read out a joint statement stating that in view of the presidential election, the normal practice has been that the ruling party takes the initiative to build a consensus on the names of candidates for these important offices.
"This has not happened so far. If acceptable consensual candidates do not emerge, then we (opposition parties) shall decide to field such persons who shall steadfastly defend the Constitutional values of our Republic," the statement said.
"The opposition parties also expressed concern over the prevailing grave situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the statement also said.
Banerjee, who was one of the first ones to arrive and leave, separately said in case a consensus candidate does not come up a small committee of opposition leaders will be formed to select a suitable presidential candidate who is "good and secular".
Lalu said the NDA had "failed" on all fronts.
"Its only achievement is that it has set the Pakistan flag fluttering in Kashmir for the first time after independence," he said.
Banerjee told reporters after the lunch that the parties present criticised the "horrible" situation in Kashmir, where security forces were battling civilians, and in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, which has been witnessing caste clashes since April.