Kolkata: Opposition parties on Saturday tore into the Narendra Modi government at a mega rally here, accusing it of systematically destroying the constitution, and pledged to stop the BJP from returning to power in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The rally was spearheaded by West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, SP chief Akhilesh Tyadav, DMK chief M K Stalin among others attended the event.
The Biju Janata Dal did not attend the rally, with the party claiming that they received no invitation from Banerjee. The party underlined its stated policy of maintaining equidistance from all kind of political groupings and fighting ‘solo” in the coming elections. Congress was represented by senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Reacting to the opposition’s show of strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “My actions against corruption have infuriated some people. It’s but natural for them to get angry as I’ve prevented them from looting public money. Consequently, they have now formed an alliance called Mahagathbandhan. He took potshots at the opposition unity saying, “Those who crushed democracy in their own state are now preaching about saving the democracy. It’s truly ironical”.
Leaders and their views at the rally at the Brigade Parade Ground:
“Haven’t seen anyone run a country in a such a fascist manner. Modi is unable to take everyone along. One who can’t take everyone along, can’t be a leader. This is the beginning of BJP’s end. They humiliated CBI, ED, RBI. They undermined banks. Remember, if you vote BJP to power this time, you won’t get any of your money back,” said Mamata Banerjee.
“What Pakistan has not been able to do in 70 years, this govt has achieved by dividing the people”, she added, giving a clarion call to voters to oust the BJP government. “Bahut hua acchhe din, ebaar BJP ke jete din (We have had enough of good days, now it’s time to let BJP go). “Today 23-24 parties have taken part in this rally. The Modi government is past its expiry date,” Mamata said.
“We have one goal. BJP has divided the nation, we want to unite India,” said Chandrababu Naidu.
If Modi-Shah come back in 2019, they will destroy this country. They will break the country to pieces. They will do what Hitler did, they will change the Constitution, they will abolish elections. We need to uproot them,” said Arvind Kejriwal.
“This new year, will have a new prime minister. Whoever the people choose will become the PM,” said Akhilesh Yadav, adding, “The BJP will not open its account in Tamil Nadu.”
“You wipe out BJP from UP, we will do so in Bengal,” Mamata told Akhilesh at mega rally.
“BJP is encouraging horse trading in Karnataka. The legislators are being treated as commodities,” said HD Kumaraswamy.
“The BJP is lying to the people for votes. Unemployment is rising. Farmers, labourers, minorities, Dalits are being persecuted,” said BSP MP Satish Misra.
“Modi has realised that defeat is certain. I have no personal animosity against Modi, but I oppose his policies. Modi has converted the country into a private limited company of which he is the MD. Modi is the fountainhead of corruption,” said MK Stalin.
“There’s undeclared emergency in the country. They are killing people in Kashmir, calling them Pakistani. I am Muslim too, but part of this country, said Farooq Abdullah.
Not one institution is left, which has not been destroyed by the current government at Centre,” said said LJP’s Sharad Yadav.
“Only the BJP will benefit from division of votes. The aim of this rally is to stop the division of votes. Wherever this happened, we saw the benefits,” said Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
“I have only one battle to fight – to uproot BJP from the Centre,” former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.
“A chargesheet was filed on flimsy grounds a day after SP-BSP alliance was announced in Uttar Pradesh. The Centre is victimising Opposition leaders using all machinery,” H D Deve Gowda.
“This rally will rob Modiji of his sleep. I want to tell Modiji, you can be chowkidaar, but people of this country are thaanedaar (cops),’ said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
“There are a lot of promises but no delivery. We will ask questions but they will try to divert public attention. People will call you chowkidaar till the time you don’t answer these questions,” Shatrughan Sinha.
