Nitish Kumar avoids BJP attack, Mamata's emissary brings regional message
Chennai: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday was the only leader to avoid attacking the BJP and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’brien opined that a formation of regional parties rule the centre.
Speaking at the diamond jubilee of DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s Assembly entry, Nitish Kumar, who spoke in Hindi, cited the introduction of total prohibition in his state and asked DMK working president to follow the same when he captured power in Tamil Nadu. “Stalin is an experienced leader and he will become the CM and implement the ideas of Karunandhi.”
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’brien, who spoke after Nitish Kumar’s address in Hindi, started his speech in Tamil to thunderous applause from the crowd of DMK cadre. He said, “I am happy to meet you all” in Tamil and switched to English. He ended his speech with a popular Tamil film song. ‘Naanga ready, neenga readiyaa’, after an appeal to the parties to fight against the BJP government on the language issue, federalism and ban on cattle sale for slaughter.
O’brien, the much applauded speaker in the meeting, said, “We must protect our language, whether it be Tamil or Bengali. Our leader Mamata Banerjee believes that regional parties should play a role in Delhi”, he added.
Omar Abdullah of National Conference said the current direction of the country is dangerous as they want an India without opposition. “This meeting will carry the message that you will not have an India without opposition and we will oppose the centre’s policies tooth and nail”.
Majeed Memon of NCP said his party would fight against fascism, racism and communalism and stand for secularism and democratic values. He said his leader Sharad Pawar is handling some pressing farmers issues in Maharashtra and could not come to the meeting. RJD leader Lalu Prasad too did not take part since he is ill, his ally Nitish Kumar informed in his speech.
