Opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, gathered in Delhi on Wednesday for a mega rally organised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where they slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a “threat to democracy” that must be defeated in the coming general election.
The rally was organised nearly three weeks after Ms. Banerjee hosted Opposition leaders in Kolkata in a similar show of strength on January 19.
Speaking at the rally, CPI leader D. Raja said the Constitution was under attack under Narendra Modi as prime minister and asserted that Parliament had been undermined and bypassed and its role 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.
Mr. Raja asserted that ever since Mr. Modi became prime minister, there had been attacks on constitutional values of the country. He said India was defined as a secular, democratic republic while BJP’s ideology was “sectarian, communal and divisive”.
“Whenever fascist powers have tried to capture power, they first destroy democratic institutions.
“And I am not just taking about CBI, RBI... Institution of Parliament being undermined, bypassing Parliament, minimising its role. It is maximum Modi, minimum governance and minimum Parliament,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders were present at the rally.
Huge posters having the image of B.R. Ambedkar and slogans like “ Tanashahi Hatao Loktantra Bachao ” (Remove Dictatorship, Save Democracy) dotted the venue.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury alleged that BJP was 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.
Interestingly, minutes before Mamata Banerjee arrived, the two left leaders moved away from the stage.
"Modi trying to tear apart Constitution"
Mr. Kejriwal at the rally, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was is trying to tear apart the Constitution and destroy democracy.
On a day when the CAG report on the 2015 Rafale fighter deal was tabled in Parliament, Mr. Kejriwal said Mr. Modi should speak the truth on the agreement between India and France because, as prime minister, he is accountable to the nation.
“Modi is trying to tear apart the Constitution. He is destroying democracy,” he said.
Referring to the controversy over the visit of a number of CBI officials visiting the Kolkata police commissioner’s residence in connection with its probe into chit-fund cases, Mr. Kejriwal said sending “40 CBI officers” from Delhi was an attack on the elected government of West Bengal.
He also alleged that the Modi government has “captured” the Anti Corruption Branch in the last four years.
“Who dreams of capturing Delhi and Kolkata? The prime minister of Pakistan,” Kejriwal said sarcastically.
“Against the people of the northeast”
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.
Stressing that the rally organised by Arvind Kejriwal was “historic”, former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang said instead of celebrating our diversity, a “minimal, illiberal and monotheistic idea is being imposed”.
“It is appropriate time to fight autocracy and save democracy. People are unhappy with the Modi government,” he said.
He said the central government is also not paying heed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protests in Arunachal Pradesh.
“The Centre has a ‘Look East’ policy but it is against the people of northeast,” he alleged and said he came to Delhi with a “deep sense of anguish”.
“Mizoram said it will be a different country if this government comes back in power. Arunachal also feels the same. India is a united country and if any government tries to impose CAB in northeast, people will uproot it,” he said.
Samajawadi party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said Uttar Pradesh will play a crucial role in 2019 and asserted that 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 so that Mr. 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.”
DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi said she was here on behalf of her party chief M.K. Stalin to extend support to Opposition leaders. “This BJP government has to go if economy, farmers, deprived people, freedom of expression is to be protected,” she said.
