'BSP to join Left protest in Parliament'

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury says in a statement that a joint protest of MPs of Left parties, BSP, TDP, Janata Dal-Secular and others will be held in parliament.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday agreed to send some of her MPs to join the protest called by Left parties in parliament on Thursday, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President George W Bush.

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Left sources told IANS that it needed a lot of persuasion by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leaders for Mayawati to change her mind. She had earlier turned down an invite from the Left to join the protest.

"A joint protest of MPs of Left parties, BSP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal-Secular and others will be held in parliament Thursday from 12 noon," CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said in a statement.

Earlier, Mayawati refused to sign a joint statement issued Sep 19 by the Left parties, TDP and JD-S to observe a protest day on Thursday.

"The dharna to protest against the non-convening of parliament when the country is faced with serious developments such as the serial terrorist blasts, relentless price rise as well as the attacks against Christian minorities," Yechury said in the statement.

"On the same day, Manmohan Singh will be meeting Bush in Washington to seal the nuclear deal, violating his assurance to come back to parliament before finalising the deal," Yechury added.