‘We know the situation in Bihar. BJP is both an asset and a liability’

In this Idea Exchange moderated by Opinion Editor Vandita Mishra, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav speaks about FDI in retail and why a new Third Front won't work

Vandita Mishra: There is a lot of disunity in the Opposition and this seems to be working to the government's advantage. For example, Nitish Kumar recently said he would support the party that gives special status to Bihar. L K Advani had said that the next PM may be a non-BJP, non-Congress man. You had rejected the suggestion. You had also rejected his call for a special session of Parliament to discuss FDI in retail.

Sharad Yadav: The NDA has been there for 16 years and there are four parties in it. All the parties have different agendas and philosophies. There are a number of issues that do not find a place in the NDA's national agenda. We came together after putting several of our party issues on the backburner. Nitishji never said anything about anybody being or not being the prime minister. It was the media that presented his statement in a way that it targeted a particular person. In the NDA, it is the BJP and the JD(U) that have a presence everywhere. We are alliance partners in Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan. We used to be allies in Karnataka.

Ever since Independence, the whole Congress set-up has remained pegged around a single entity—the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. When Advaniji asked for a special session of Parliament to discuss FDI in retail, I spoke to him. I believe that this government's policies have affected the livelihood of 25 crore people. If you call a special session, this government may fall. We do not want the government to fall. Our aim is to awaken the public so that no other government repeats what this government has done. We want to create awareness among the masses. If the masses are awakened, even Hitler has to make way and even people like Indiraji, Morarji bhai and Chaudhary Charan Singh lose elections. I requested Advaniji not to go ahead with the session as it would have no benefit.

... contd.

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