By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,
Patna / New Delhi: The Welfare Party of India (WPI) has welcomed the formation of Janata Parivar but said it is not joining the new dispensation soon.
Terming the merger move of the Janata Parivar parties as a positive step, the WPI national president Dr S Q R Ilyas said the BJP-led Modi government at the Centre is exploiting the division and weakness of opposition voices inside and outside the Parliament and resorting to all kinds of anti-people policies, crony capitalism, corporate appeasement and communal fascism.
Janata Parivar (Courtesy: IE)
“(But) right now, we are not thinking to join the Janata Pariwar,” Dr Ilyas told TwoCircles.net on phone.
“In future, we may think of joining. Janata Pariwar is not an alliance but it calls for merger with the other parties. If at all, we will collaborate, based on issues during election time. As at now, we are neither invited to join the Janata Pariwar nor are we thinking of it,” he said.
‘Samajwadi Janata Dal’, a formation of parties that belong to what is called as ‘Janata Pariwar’ has been announced to counter the ruling BJP and the current Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to lead the merger initiative. Parties in this new Third Front are: SP, Janata Dal (Secular), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), Indian National Lok Dal and the Samajwadi Janata Party.
Dr Ilyas, however, had a word of caution: “People expected a lot in the past from the Socialist-oriented parties as they were found ideologically committed to social justice and secular values. If they learn lessons from the earlier failures and rise above aggressive casteism and clan culture, then the new move will be a turning point in the nation’s history.”
“The openness of the Janata Parivar leaders to broaden their base and willingness to accommodate like-minded parties is a positive gesture,” a statement from the WPI said.