Opposition party leaders unite at ‘Remove Dictatorship, Save Country’ rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey.
Three weeks after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a mahagathbandhan rally, attended by 25 political leaders from over 20 political parties, in Kolkata, Opposition leaders have organised a mega rally at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Wednesday titled ‘Remove Dictatorship, Save Country’.
The rally hosted by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party was attended by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.
Other senior leaders including Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, Nationalist Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar and LJD chief Sharad Yadav were also present at the rally.
The Congress also extended support to the Rally.
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Is Modi India's Prime Minister or Pakistan's Prime Minister asked Kejriwal adding that if he is India's PM then he should act like one and not destroy the country.
Taking a jibe at the Modi govt, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, " Modi trying to tear apart Constitution, destroy democracy."
"I want to say to the whole country that this time vote for a literate Prime Minister. Think about the country and not a single person," he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP's West Bengal unit Wednesday mocked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for joining the opposition rally describing it as a "desperate attempt to hog the limelight". These rallies show the "desperation" of the opposition parties to capture power at any cost, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.
"She (Banerjee) is busy going to Delhi attending dharna of opposition leaders. There are so many opposition leaders and everybody including Mamata Banerjee is fighting for the prime minister's post. Instead of dreaming of becoming the PM, she should pay attention to provide good governance in Bengal," Ghosh said.
Samajawadi party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said Uttar Pradesh will play a crucial role in 2019 and asserted BJP will not open its account in UP, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats. He said the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will "create a situation" in UP that Modi will have to find another seat, besides Varanasi, to contest the coming Lok Sabha election.
This Opposition, he said, will defend the country and save democracy from BJP.
"All democratic institutions are under assault," he alleged, adding, "We need to identify the elements, who, in partnership with BJP, are trying to weaken Kejriwal and Mamata governments."
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mamata said, democracy has today become "Modicracy". " Everyone is afraid of Gabbar Singh, there are two of them -- Modi and Shah," she said adding that the situation has become worse than emergency.
Attacking the Modi government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Modi knows to break the nation, we know to bind the nation and this is why opposition today has united to bind the nation and fight nationwide."
"Modi says, his govt gave you food, gas, and everything and what have we done? Nothing," asks Mamata.
Speaking at the rally hosted by Delhi's AAP, Mamta said, Aam Admi party will win all seven seats in Delhi and there will be a united India soon.
Speaking at the Opposition rally in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the expiry date of Modi Sarkar is over as today is the last day of parliament.
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Delhi Chief Minister welcomes CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and Janta Dal leader Sharad Yadav. ( Source: AAP/Twitter)
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury alleged that BJP is professing politics of 'Dushashan' by pitting brothers against brothers.
"There is need to replace this government for a better India. This chowkidar needs to be removed to save the country.
"BJP is like Kaurava Sena but the Pandavas (Opposition) will defeat them and save the country," he said.
Speaking at the rally, CPI leader D Raja said the Constitution is under attack under Narendra Modi as prime minister and asserted that Parliament has been undermined and bypassed and its role has been minimized under Modi.
"Can you allow a Germany-like situation where Hitler overpowered Reichstag(German parliament)," he said.
"BJP in power is a threat to constitution and democracy. It must be defeated," he added.
Speaking at the rally, CPI leader D Raja said the Constitution is under attack under Narendra Modi as prime minister and asserted that Parliament has been undermined and bypassed and its role has been minimized under Modi.
"Can you allow a Germany-like situation where Hitler overpowered Reichstag(German parliament)," he said. "BJP in power is a threat to constitution and democracy. It must be defeated," he added.
Speaking at the Opposition rally in Delhi, Janta Dal Party leader Sharad Yadav said, "BJP made elections very exorbitant, that if Lal Bahadur Shastri and Jay Prakash Narayan will contest elections they won't be successful. Time has come to show them the doors. India needs to be saved."
Source: AAP/Twitter
Source: AAP/Twitter
Opposition leaders including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Yadav, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD's Trilok Tyagi at AAP's 'Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao' rally. (Source: ANI)
As the Opposition leaders flock together today under the banner of “Remove Dictatorship, Save Country,” here are the other instances when they projected a united face over the past year. Read More
Mamata Banerjee has emerged as one of the most formidable voices of the opposition and her visit to Delhi assumes significance after the protest she led in Kolkata over CBI’s attempt to interrogate the city police chief in chit fund scam cases created a political storm. She has been at loggerheads with the ruling BJP, which is eyeing to garner at least 22 of 42 seats from Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Read More