Large scale preparations have been made to ensure that it is a complete success. Besides the huge stages, 20 watch towers have been erected and 1,000 microphones and 30 LED screens put up so that the spectators can see and hear the speeches of the leaders clearly. Lakhs of TMC supporters and workers are expected to attend the rally and huge numbers of them from various corners of the state have already started pouring into the city. They have been put up in the outskirts of the city and in some auditoriums and stadiums. Hundreds of TMC volunteers will be on the grounds to take care of supporters. As many as 10,000 police personnel will be deployed and around 400 police pickets have been set up to ensure foolproof security, the police said.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke on Saturday's Kolkata rally, saying that it was evident that their agenda is to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they have no future road-map for the development of India."Those who could not see eye to eye have come together & from the speech it was evident that their only agenda is to remove Narendra Modi, they have no future road-map for the development of India," said Prasad. Prasad commented on Akhilesh Yadav's speech at addressing a rally in Kolkata saying that a leader has to be named to be elected by the people of India. Someone said in a very funny manner that our leader will be elected by the people of India, you have to name your leader to be elected by the people of India. Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Mamata Ji and some regional players too, all have PM‘s ambition," said the Law Minister.
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Continuing her attack on the Modi government, Mamata said, "I will not allow communal violence in the name of Rath Yatra. We will not allow BJP to run amok in Bengal. BJP will be wiped out from state to state. No acche din under the Modi government. People have made up their mind to oust the BJP government. Our country does not believe in the politics of divide and rule."
Mamata Banerjee added, "The Modi government tends to take the credit for the works done by the state government. The state government is not being allowed to work under this government. The weather changes, everything changes, then why can't this Modi government change? Modi government targetting the opposition is simply an act of vendetta. Everyone has to come together. Collective leadership is very important. Modi asks who is going to be our leader. We have several leaders - everybody is a leader, everyone is an organiser in our alliance. We are holding a meeting here, am sure all the 'agencies' are holding a meeting in Delhi."
Taking over the event, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Just like medicines have expiry dates, the time has come for the Modi government to leave. Bengal has shown the way during Independence and it continues showing the same. So many scandalous things have happened in this country. You should see the amount of money this government had five years ago and what it has now."
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "If you do not bow before the government, it will use the central agencies against you. The Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation are BJP's alliance partners. We have to save the country. Modi will get sleepless nights after this opposition meet. I thank Mamata ji on behalf of my father Lalu Prasad Yadav too. If the country's 'chowkidaar' commits a mistake, then the 'thanedaar' will punish you."
BJP Mahila Morcha president Locket Chatterjee tweeted, "When PM Narendra Modi launches a scheme of affordable healthcare for the poor in the country, which even global leaders praise, opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee pull out of the scheme for their political agenda."
A minor fire broke out at the Brigade Parade Ground today. (Express photo)
BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, who is also present at the event, said, "We are here to give a new direction to the country. We are here to take the views of NEWS (North East West South) of United India. The mood of the country is one and is towards development. There is too much of life among the younger generation. I cannot compromise with principles. Before BJP, I belong to this country (on talks of getting removed from the party). If speaking the truth is rebellious, then I am a rebel. Demonetisation was not the party's decision. People could not overcome the effects of demonetisation that the government decided to roll out the Goods and Service Tax. Several traders were hit badly by the decision."
Gowda added, "The first Mahagathbandhan has been organised in Kolkata. The main task before us is how we should move forward. I have heard all the senior leaders speak. The time is very short. The only issue is how will all of us come together and what our future is. Social media is powerful and the media is asking pertinent questions. It is a herculean task for all of us to forget our differences and come together."
Meanwhile, while addressing a rally in Gujarat's Silvassa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the united opposition, saying, "This alliance is not against PM Modi but against the people of India. Currently, they are not even properly together and already have started bargaining for their share. In Kolkata, people are seeking help to save themselves but here, I am with you to take the country forward. My actions against corruption have infuriated some people. It's but natural for them to get angry as I have prevented them from looting public money. Consequently, they have now formed an alliance called Mahagathbandhan."
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda also addressed the United India rally. He said, "It is a herculean task to forget differences and come together. The Centre is victimizing leaders of Opposition parties using all machinery."
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "I thank Mamata for uniting all political parties. I thank all the leaders for coming together. The country at large is under immense strain. Economically, citizens have been stripped. Politically, institutions have been undermined. We need to defeat the forces that are trying to sabotage the Constitution of India. This rally marks an important attempt to galvanize the leaders to fight the arrogant Modi government. This is the message given by Sonia Gandhi on behalf of Congress. Until we are one, we will not be able to fight this government. I appeal to all leaders to unite to save our democracy. Farmers are dying but PM Modi is feeding people like Anil Ambani. Unemployment is rising under Modi's rule. The government has failed the country through demonetisation and Rafale fraud."
Hitting out at BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha for attending the united opposition's rally, BJP national spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "Some people are intelligent in a different way. Some people want to carry the stamp of BJP for the facilities that come as a MP. They make it a point to be present at the whip so that they don't lose their membership. At the same time they are so opportunistic that they want to climb the stage and be present at a conclave. BJP will take cognizance of it."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also addressed the crowd. He said, "Today is a historic day. We have only one ambition- Save India, Save Democracy. We have to unite India; BJP is trying to divide India. The BJP and NDA have betrayed the nation. This government is doing fraud by paying extra for 36 jets. It has misled the nation in this case. After note ban, ATMs have remained closed and no money is available in the bank. This government is not controlling inflation but interfering in federal work. If you misbehave in Karnataka, you will pay a heavy price."
Taking over from Yadav, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said, "In the last five years, PM Modi and Amit Shah's combo has finished the country. Today, the country is fed up with them. Modi has told lies, took votes from the youth, promised them jobs. Today, naukri (job) is a far fetched ideal, there is a job deficit and the farmers are worst hit. Farmers are committing suicide when their crops are getting destroyed. PM Modi and Shah tend to hand them over to insurance companies to recover their money, and these insurance companies are Modi's friends. The farmers don't get their money. The country's women are also upset because our PM follows those people who abuse them on social media."
Addressing the crowd, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Bengal will show the way to the rest of the nation. They tease us saying they have so many PM hopefuls, but who will be the one? The public will decide who will be our PM. We ask you who failed you, who upset the country and its people, who played dirty games and spread hatred, it's the BJP. When they promised sabka saath sabka vikas, they tried to poison your society. Modi's message is a message of hate."
Leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge arrives at the united opposition's rally in Kolkata.
Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said, "Regional parties have the strong instinct to connect with the people and protect the interests of their states."
Massive arrangements have been made to accomodate the TMC supporters who have arrived in the city for the United India rally. (Express photo)
"This is the second freedom struggle. The elections will serve as a platform to get rid of the Modi government. Modi had claimed that there is no opposition in India; today he is talking only about oppositions. He is scared, he is scared that we will dethrone the BJP from power. This BJP government is not for commoners, it's for corporates. Rafale deal is a case of corruption. Vijay Mallya left India with the help of this government, Sushma Swaraj helped Nirav Modi flee the country," Stalin said.
The DMK chief added, "If Narendra Modi comes to power again, India will go back 50 years. I thank Mamata for organizing this rally against the BJP government. Modi fears few people, Mamata Banerjee is one of them. Modi and Amit Shah fear to enter Kolkata and that's because of Mamata. She is an Iron Lady, she had immense respect for our leader Kalaingar. Our unity will defeat Modi, our unity will save India," the DMK chief said.
The crowd at the United India rally in Kolkata. (Express photo)
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah told the crowd, "After 70 years, India has yet another challenge. That people are being divided on religious lines. Fire is being spread in the northeast (a reference to Citizenship Amendment Bill). If you want to save this country, everyone has to sacrifice something. We will have to unite to save the country. I am a Muslim, but a part of Hindustan, and every Kashmiri, be it from Jammu and Ladakh, wants to stay with India. In the last four years, the current government has given us problems from all sides. We have to finish the BJP, and for that, it is important to fight the elections together. We should approach the Election Commission, meet the President and say we want ballot papers. This year, we want a new government that plays fair with institutions, in which we can all co-exist. India can be strengthened not by the Air Force or Army but only if our hearts are strong."
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, "Clouds are parting. A rainbow of political parties is forming. The time for a coalition has arrived. The Modi government is intolerant of any criticism. PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah's motive is to mislead the public and get votes. I applaud Mamata di's efforts to bring everyone together on one platform."
Taking a jibe at Mamata's meeting with opposition leaders, BJP leader Mukul Roy said, "West Bengal is again witnessing a circus under Mamata’s rule similar to what Jyoti Basu had started. Various jokers and lying artists coming together to destroy India again."
Sinha added, "Today there isn't one democratic institution that the current dispensation hasn't destroyed. The country's economy is in doldrums, this is the first government that plays around and exaggerates facts and figures. You all know what the ground reality is and that the government wants to divide society and country."Taking over, former BJP leader Arun Shourie said, "No other government has said so many lies. Never before were institutions undermined in this manner."
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said, "I thank Mamata ji for inviting me to this event. We have gathered here to defeat one person- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are here to protest against a certain set of ideas and ideologies. This is the first government who enjoys playing with facts and figures. Those who oppose the government are not anti-nationals." Raking up the Kashmir issue, he said, "I had earlier said that the problems in Kashmir cannot be solved through bullets but dialogue."
Former Arunachal Pradesh CM Gegong Apang, who recently quit the BJP, also turned up for the rally. He said, "The last four years have been testing times for Indian democracy."
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha working president Hemant Soren said, "All opposition parties are against hate politics. The manner in which the country is running is dangerous for the nation. I want to thank Mamata di for taking the initiative to organise this meeting."
As opposition leaders continue to address the crowd, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani said, "The country is passing through an unprecedented crisis. All parties have to come together to defeat BJP and RSS."
Addressing the crowd, Patidar leader Hardik Patel said, "This meeting is to save the Constitution of India. Together we can save this country."
Taking to Twitter, DMK chief M K Stalin said, "It has been a great pleasure meeting all leaders in Kolkata attending the United India rally. I look forward to the public meeting today that will send out a strong message to the BJP that it's days of dividing and ruling India, are numbered."
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also arrives at Mamata's rally.
Poet Srijato, who was harassed by Hindutva supporters at Silchar recently, now reads his poetry to the audience.
"I'll see you on a BJP-free dawn', sings iconic Bengali singer Kabir Suman, former TMC MP from Jadavpur who later distanced himself from the party, but agreed to participate in today's event. Suman who is one of the cultural performers at the event.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Mamata Banerjee had said, “It will be a historic mega rally. It will be a platform of all political parties to drive the BJP out. The nation will hear from leaders of different parties. The rally will mark the death knell for BJP. We (TMC) will hear what all parties have to say. Every political party has its own vision and ideology. We will not thrust our opinion on others. Let the leaders decide. This time regional parties will be the decision-maker.” She added, “BJP will not get more than 125 seats this time. I do not know how many seats Congress will get. Congress is sending (Mallikarjun) Kharge ji and Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the rally.”
Taking a dig at the Opposition leaders who are expected to turn up at the rally, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "All of them (opposition leaders) are like tired, defeated wrestlers who want to get back into the ring to apply their luck again. When the first alliance in Karnataka itself is in such a shape, then what will happen in future?"
Continuing his attack on the Mamata government, Babul Supriyo said, "The TMC has a large fund base for the rally but not for the state? Kolkata will witness a show of hypocrisy today."
An overview of the crowd at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Saturday morning. (Express photo/Partha Paul)
"Instead of chanting 'Brigade Chalo', they all should chant ‘Let’s make India better’. Then, some fruitful decisions can be made for the county and for the people!," Babul Supriyo posted on Twitter.
Slamming the TMC government for stalling traffic across the city, Asansol MP and BJP leader Babul Supriyo tweeted, "By putting the traffic on stand still and harassing the general public, TMC wants to stand up for the state’s well fare? How ironical! I urge all to share their today's traffic woes."
The Indian Express explains: Mamata Banerjee is hosting a mega rally of Opposition leaders in Kolkata today. This show of strength will in a way sound the poll bugle for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The coming together of such diverse political figures from across the country with Mamata as their pivot will also firmly establish the TMC chief as one of the contenders for the top job post-elections, should it be available.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also extended his support and said he hoped the show of strength will send a powerful message of a united India. He said there are millions of Indians, who can see through the “false promises and lies peddled by the Modi government”, and are hoping for a new tomorrow, one where they were being heard and respected. “The entire opposition is united in our belief that true nationalism and development can only be defended on the tested pillars of democracy, social justice and secularism, ideas that the BJP and Mr Modi are intent on destroying,” the Congress leader posted on Facebook. He also hailed the citizens of West Bengal for being at the forefront of defending the country’s ideals.
More than 20 national leaders, including former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren and former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, reached Kolkata on Friday to take part in the rally. Although Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati will not attend the rally, senior party leader Satish Chandra Mishra will be present on her behalf.
While Gitanjali Stadium will accommodate workers from Malda and Murshidabad, Central Park is being used for workers from North Bengal districts. “Our target is to bring more than 50 lakh people to the rally. The kind of support we have received so far makes it evident that people have responded to Mamata’s call,” said TMC councillor Ashim Kumar Bose. At Sealdah station, buses have been arranged to ferry workers to the camps. Workers will also be ferried to the Brigade Parade grounds Saturday. State minister Jyotipriya Mallick was at the station to receive workers who arrived Thursday. “A large number of people have arrived today and more will come tomorrow,” he said.
CM Mamata Banerjee reviewed the preparations for the rally on Friday. (Express photo)
In order to accomodate the around 20,000 party workers who have arrived for the rally, several arrangments have been made by the TMC. Two giant tents, CCTV cameras, a help desk and a health kiosk have been set up at the Gitanjali Stadium, Central Park in Salt Lake, Uttirna and Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. “We will put in place the best arrangements to make them feel at home,” said state minister and TMC leader Nirmal Majhi, who was monitoring activities at Gitanjali Stadium Thursday. He said around 1,000 TMC workers would look after party members who will stay at the camps for the next two days.