Mumbai: The inaugural rally of the INDIA bloc at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park was a clarion name to guard the Constitution, deal with issues over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and examine alleged graft linked to electoral bonds and central company probes. The occasion additionally marked the end result of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The gathering served as a launchpad for the INDIA bloc’s Lok Sabha election marketing campaign, drawing key opposition figures, together with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Okay. Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Tejashwi Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) president Sharad Pawar, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, amongst others.
In a potent show, huge crowds assembled at Shivaji Park for the rally Sunday. With normal elections set to start on 19 April, the Opposition lambasted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over points regarding EVMs, whereas intentionally avoiding any point out of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who determined to offer the occasion a slip.
Amid hypothesis in regards to the alliance’s unity and acceptance of Congress’ management, opposition leaders together with Tejashwi Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Stalin, and others endorsed Rahul Gandhi — commending his initiative of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The allies spoke in a single voice about those that deserted the alliance, like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and requested everybody to let bygones be bygones and transfer ahead.
“We are not fighting against one party or one man but against the misuse of power. I had to do this yatra because there was a lack of communication in the country. But I was not the only one doing this yatra. This was the yatra of the Opposition where everyone from Uddhav Thackeray to Tejashwi Yadav, all participated,” stated Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
During the day, Rahul paid homage at Mani Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi’s Mumbai residence, and different memorials, together with the Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park. He wrapped up his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Saturday with a go to to Chaitya Bhoomi, the cremation web site of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, notably bypassing the Savarkar memorial reverse the Shivaji Park.
The day additionally noticed Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attacking the Opposition.
Speaking to the media, Shinde stated, “Today is a black day for Shiv Sena people because, from Shivaji Park, Balasaheb Thackeray guided the whole country. In the same park, this rally is happening and those who spoke against Veer Savarkar and made allegations against him are attending this, it is unfortunate…in the upcoming elections, people will teach them a lesson.”
Also Read: Mamata guidelines out reconciliation with Congress — ‘brought big yatra to Bengal but gave me no info’
‘Monopoly over corruption’
Addressing an enormous viewers, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “cannot win the elections without EVM”.
Gandhi stated that Modi has a “monopoly over corruption; he is a mask who works for power; he is a shallow man, not someone with a 56-inch chest.”
Taking a cue from Gandhi, National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah criticised EVMs, urging voters to confirm VVPAT slips publish voting. “This is our India… You have to protect your votes because the machine (EVM) is a thief. When you cast your vote, check the paper and verify your vote… When the INDIA bloc will form the government, this machine will end. Secondly, the Election Commission will become independent…,” he stated.
AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj added: “We have to counter the EVM game this time by ensuring that more and more people come out and vote.”
The Opposition additionally slammed the central authorities over the electoral bonds scheme, which was struck down by the Supreme Court as “unconstitutional”.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin known as the BJP “corrupt” and the electoral bonds scheme “white collar corruption”.
“There is no bigger threat than BJP,” stated the DMK chief.
Taking a jibe at Modi’s marketing campaign slogan ‘Modi ki guarantee,’ former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav stated, “Modi ji talks about guarantee. I want to tell him that forget about other guarantees, first give me the guarantee of my chacha (Nitish Kumar).”
Joining Yadav, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that Modi’s assure is for the wealthy, however “our guarantee is for the common man” — underlining the guarantees the celebration made in Karnataka and Telangana.
Meanwhile, leaders collectively thanked Rahul Gandhi for initiating the yatra.
“The BJP is scared of you because of the name Gandhi. Today leaders from different ideologies have come together. But this is the beauty of India. We have come together to safeguard the Constitution,” stated former J&Okay chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Yadav too thanked Rahul for taking out the yatra at a time when Modi “is dividing the country, spreading fake propaganda, and toppling governments”.
Calling for the removing of the BJP authorities, Pawar stated, “In Mumbai in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the Quit India call, but now I want to tell you from Mumbai, here we have to give a call that people should Quit BJP.” While Thackeray gave the slogan, “BJP is like a balloon; and unfortunately we only filled air in that balloon. But Ab ki baar BJP Tadipar.”
Meanwhile, the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena criticised Thackeray for deviating from his father’s ideas by aligning with the Congress.
On Sunday, the celebration launched an outdated video of Bal Thackeray on social media platform ‘X’ during which he might be heard saying that he won’t ever ally with the Congress. “I will not let my Shiv Sena become Congress. Rather I would shut my shop down,” he’s heard saying.
शिवतीर्थ हे महाराष्ट्रासाठी तीर्थक्षेत्र आहे. शिवतीर्थ म्हणजे वंदनीय बाळासाहेब ठाकरे असे समीकरण, यापूर्वी याच शिवतीर्थावरून स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकरांच्या जबरदस्त वाणीतून राष्ट्रप्रेमाचा, हिंदुत्वाचा आणि देशभक्तीचा पहिला हुंकार उठला होता.
याच शिवतीर्थावरून हिंदुहृदय सम्राट वंदनीय… pic.twitter.com/2Ye71yOJTF
— Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Modi Ka Parivar) (@cbawankule) March 17, 2024
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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