Venugopal said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav discussed the Bihar Yatra and invited all leaders of the alliance to participate in it during its conclusion on September 1.”We discussed about the EC march,” he said, adding that several opposition leaders would be part of a protest march on Monday from Parliament to the Election Commission office, against the “poll fraud” charges.Asked whether the vice presidential election was also discussed, he said, “There wasn’t much discussion on the vice presidential election…There are other occasions for it”.Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi called the meeting “positive”, and said the SIR and the revelations made by Gandhi remained the main issues.He added that it was not a “formal” meeting, and other issues were also discussed among leaders.”The way opposition parties have been united in Parliament in national interest and have cornered the government, the same unity was visible in the meeting as well,” Gogoi said.He said the presentation made by Gandhi was discussed in the meeting, and some of the evidences presented by him were also presented to the opposition leaders.Asked if the upcoming vice-presidential poll was also discussed, he said, “The main intention was that all leaders should come together… This is not a formal meeting, different issues are likely to be taken up.”CPI general secretary D Raja said the meeting was “very meaningful.””Today’s meeting was very meaningful, the issue was ongoing controversy over SIR, and how EC has been functioning, how wrong things are being done as far as enrolment of voters are concerned, their identities are concerned,” Raja said.”Rahul Gandhi made a power point presentation, he gave several examples. He also said what is happening in Bihar today can happen anywhere in the country,” he said.National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said they raised the issue of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, and also opposed a ban imposed on certain books in the state.”I saw how votes are stolen….Our concern is statehood (for J&K), we raised that issue. The statehood that was promised has not been given,” he said.”We also raised the ban on books in J&K. We regret that this is unconstitutional; it should not be done,” Abdullah added.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy were also present at the dinner.(With inputs from PTI)
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