Opposition raises poll bonds, EVMs to target PM Modi as Rahul yatra ends

“Today Narendra Modi has a monopoly over corruption. Electoral bond is nothing but national hafta vasooli. They give contract and take percentage.

Second, they threaten. Third, they use shell companies and, fourth, contract in terms of money. Mumbai airport is an example of it. CBI probe was initiated and then Adani was given the airport,” the Congress MP said.

“Everybody thinks that we are fighting against a political party or against an individual called Narendra Modi. No it is not. He is just a face. We are fighting against a particular power. That power which is in EVMs and in institutions… which is robbing you of your money and Narendra Modi’s job is to distract your attention from that,” Gandhi said.

At the INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai on Sunday. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)

“From media to business houses, would you find a member of the backward class, Dalit or a poor from general background? Farmers are denied their due compensation by companies… in my 4,000 km of travel (during his yatra), I didn’t find a single youth who supported the Agniveer scheme. Narendra Modi’s job is to divert your attention from these issues. There will be China or Pakistan. He will tell you to light the diya, switch on mobile or will cry saying he is being insulted,” he said.

The rally was attended by leaders Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (SP), RJD, DMK, JMM, Samajwadi Party, AAP, CPI (ML), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, NC and PDP among others. Prior to the rally, Gandhi along with Uddhav Thackeray paid floral tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and at the memorial of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed Prime Minister Modi as a leader of liars. “Is it wrong? He promised jobs, money, double income for farmers. Are these promises fulfilled? If not, then who is he? Am I wrong in calling him leader of liars (jhoothon ka sardar),” said Kharge. He claimed Modi’s return would mean no elections in future as it will lead to dictatorship.

He also took a dig at the electoral bond scheme. “Bonds gave him thousands of crores and not few thousands. So it is not pick-pocketing. It is much bigger than that,” he said.

Both Gandhi and Kharge sounded caution on EVMs with Kharge saying the only way to tackle the threat of EVM manipulation will be to come out in large numbers.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said it was Mumbai from where Mahatma Gandhi gave the call to the British to Quit India, and the Opposition has gathered today to call for the defeat of the present regime.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Thackeray said he has coined a slogan against the BJP’s claim of crossing 400 seats this time. “Our slogan is Ab Ki Baar, BJP Tadipar. We shall use it from hereafter,” he said.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said: “There is no bigger threat to India than the BJP. The real victory of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra stands in defeating BJP and capturing Delhi.”

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said, “We are here not only to defeat Modi but to defeat the divisive ideology. We have no personal enmity against Modi or (Amit) Shah but our main opposition is unemployment and poverty.”

Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah cautioned voters over the EVMs. “Your vote is for those who spilled blood for the country. The vote is for India. But remember the machine is a thief. Do check the paper after casting the vote. I am sure the INDIA government will cancel the EVM for good and the ECI will be freed from government control,” he said.

AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “The only common thing in the leaders of INDIA front is that none of us is scared of going to jail. It is important to fight, only then can we win. We have to counter the EVM game this time by ensuring that more and more people come out and vote.”

Although Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav did not attend the rally, he congratulated Rahul Gandhi for his “strong determination” on the conclusion of his yatra.

In a letter to Gandhi on Sunday, Yadav said, “Rare are those people, who can take out such yatra. Heartiest congratulations to you for your strong determination.”

“You started this yatra from Manipur, which is burning due to the failure of the BJP government. You gave a strong message against the dictator government from the Northeast. During the course of the entire yatra, you met all sections of society, including farmers, youngsters, women, elderly and you got acquainted with their problems very closely.”

With inputs from ENS, New Delhi