Presidential elections, a fight between two ideologies: Yashwant Sinha

Hyderabad: The Opposition parties’ Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha declared that the Presidential election was not a fight between two individuals, but a battle of ideologies. He said the Presidential elections were being held under extraordinary circumstances and the fight will continue even after the polls, notwithstanding the results. Addressing the gathering of TRS Ministers, MPs […]

Hyderabad: The Opposition parties’ Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha declared that the Presidential election was not a fight between two individuals, but a battle of ideologies. He said the Presidential elections were being held under extraordinary circumstances and the fight will continue even after the polls, notwithstanding the results.

Addressing the gathering of TRS Ministers, MPs and legislators in support of his candidature at Jala Vihar here on Sunday, the former union Minister launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Presidential election could have been unanimous, if Modi took an initiative as the head of the ruling party and reached out to the Opposition parties for ‘consensus’.

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“The Prime Minister never believed in ‘consensus’, but only ‘confrontation’. Though I had called him over phone after filing the nomination, he was unavailable and did not responded till now,” he said.

Sinha expressed concern that the country was passing through a difficult phase and there was a dire need to prevent the nation from collapsing due to practice of hate and divisive policies by the ruling party. “Why should a population of 135 crore listen to one person who is spreading hate? Is it democracy?” he questioned. Irrespective of the election outcome, he vowed to fight against the divisive forces with the support of leaders like Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

He recalled that during his term as union Finance Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cabinet, he never imagined that the Enforcement Directorate could be used against rivals. “It is unfortunate that the State’s power is being misused to check the political opponents,” he added. He stated that a people’s movement has started from Telangana and it would be taken to a logical end.

Overwhelmed with the rousing welcome accorded to him, the Presidential candidate thanked the TRS leadership and elected representatives for their support. He said the country needed leaders like Chandrasekhar Rao and promised to return to hold discussions with the latter on the future of the country. He stated Telangana had become a ‘miracle State’ under the able leadership of Rao who has the vision and commitment for the development and welfare of the people.

“Initially, I was not sure about support to my candidature from various political parties. But today, Telangana gave me a hope that there was still democracy in this country,” he said. He vowed to continue the fight to protect democracy and the Constitutional mandates of the country. He said the TRS President was fighting for the just cause and the future of this country as well as its children.