Sharad says 17 parties will attend Sanjhi Virasat Bachao program, Manmohan, Rahul to be present

Rebel JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday announced that around 17 parties will attend Sanjhi Virasat Bachao program to be held on Thursday. Sharad informed that Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi will be present during the program.

The Sanjhi Virasat Bachao program is being seen as Sharad's show of strength against his party chief Nitish Kumar's decision to join hands with the BJP.

Top leaders of the Congress, the Left, Samajwadi Party, BSP, TMC and other parties are expected to attend the program.

Asserting that "composite culture" was the soul of the Constitution, which Yadav alleged was being "tinkered with", he said similar meetings would be held across the country.

While refusing to answer questions on his disapproval of Bihar Chief Minister Kumar's alliance with the BJP, the former JD(U) chief said the decision to hold tomorrow's event was taken weeks ago, when his party was with the loose opposition group.

"The 'sajha virasat bachao sammelan' (save composite culture programme) is not against anybody but in the interest of the country. This is in the interest of 125 crore people of the country," he said.

With PTI inputs