United Opposition Rally: Modi govt past its expiry date, will decide PM candidate later, says Mamata
The stage is all set for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mega Opposition rally against the Narendra Modi government here on Saturday.
A galaxy of Opposition leaders from the length and the breath of the country descended upon Brigade Ground in Kolkata for a massive show of strength. From youth leaders like Jignesh Mevani to Hardik Patel to veterans like HD Deve Gowda, Farooq Abdullah and Sharad Pawar, a host of anti-BJP leaders answered Mamata Banerjee’s rallying call.
Also, present were several seating CMs including Arvind Kejriwal, HD Kumaraswamy, N Chandrababu Naidu and former CMs including Omar Abdullah, Akhilesh Yadav, Gegong Apang. There were leaders from the north, east west and south. The historic ground has a long legacy, where Chittaranjan Das rallied against the Rowlatt Act and was a parade ground for British forces at Fort William.
Soviet premier Nikolay Aleksandrovich Bulganin and First Secretary of the Communist party Khruschev have also graced Brigade parade ground. It also was a host to a rally held in Jan 1984 against Congress which included Jyoti Basu, Ramakrishna Hegde, Farooq Abdullah and Chandra Shekhar.
And today, Mamata Banerjee – the consummate challenger during her days on the opposition aisle – rallied like-minded parties against the Modi-Shah juggernaut.
Playing the emcee – with the air of a headmistress when urging the audience to keep calm – she a called upon each of the leaders to speak.
Bengal's soil has shown the way in the past Mother of cheater shouts the mostWe will work together to bring a new dawn for the countryThey change everything - history, geography, democracy. Why shouldn't we change BJP sarkar then? You promised 2 crore jobs. There are no jobs and you are giving reservation. These kinds of things can't go on. Brigade is a place for legendary rallies. There are times when everyone gets united. One seat is not important, this country is more important.
We have lots of leaders, every body is a leader, every body is a worker.
Amra sobai raja... as Tagore said. We will go wherever you want meetings.
They have ruined CBIUsing BSF, CISF to do politics. They are lynching peopleThey trapped our srijato who went for meeting
We won't allow riots in name of Rath Yatra. Have heard of Sri Krishna or Jagannath Rath, what is this five-star rath?
Said Citizenship Act is wrong, but they never heard. No matter how much bjp talks, there is going to be no acche din for bjpYou missed opportunities to get acche din
Onek hoyeche, acche din, ebar BJP ke baad dinWe will discuss PM candidate laterYou want to break very party
PM Modi said in Silvassa, "This 'ganthbandhan' is not against Modi but against the people of India. Currently, they are not even properly together and already that have started bargaining for their share.My actions against corruption have infuriated some people. It's but natural for them to get angry as I've prevented them from looting public money. Consequently, they have now formed an alliance called Mahagathbandhan."
PM Modi said in Silvassa, "Jab loktantra ka gala ghotne wale loktantra ko bachane ki baat karte toh desh ke munh se nikalta hai 'wah kya baat'".
Forget our differnces, people want a new government.
We need to come together to prepare a manifesto. How we will govern. There should not be any differences.
We should convince people that we will give a stable government.
Today is only the first meaning.
Want to thank Mamata for uniting so many people to fight BJP.
Sonia Gandhi's message to the rally:
"The upcoming general elections will be on the faith of restoring democracy in our country. Our plurastic fabric has been vitiated . We have to defend our secular ethos and our heritage. We have to defeat forces that are against India. I wish it all the success."
You are not eating,but you are feeding your friends.
Where are the 2 crore jobs?
We have to fight together. Jai Hind
After demonetization all ATMs were closed
Developed countries are no longer using EVMs
Special status was promised to Andhra PRadesh, this government never helped.
Do you want Amit Shah or Modi again?
Youth is afraidYouth has no jobs. Modi lied to them about giving crores of jobsForget jobs, because of demonetization 1.5crore jobs were lost Kisan is very angry with BJPModi and Amit Shah turns farmers to insurance companies, while Modi's friends have insurance companiesBJP trolls abuse women and PM Modi follows themDalits are being lynchedWhat Pakistan couldn't do in 70 years, Modi and Amit Shah managed, to divide the countryLakhs have come together to defeat Modi-ShahEvery true patriot needs to get rid of Modi-ShahWant to thank Mamata for the nationModi-Shah hatao, desh batao
BJP is doing gatbandhan with ED and CBI, but we are doing gatbandhan with people
If Tamil Nadu can make BJP zero, so can we
I did a lot of work, but BJP didn't ask for votes based on it.
Don't fall for their traps to communalise
I want to thank all for coming.
A honour to share dias with Mamata didiShe has been a role modelHappy to be part of this rallyWe will build a new strong IndiaWant to congratulate all religious leadersDuring seven decades we worked hard
It's now in the hand of the religious parties. India is on the crosswordsDemonetization hit the poorWhere mind is without fear, there head is held high. Like to thanks Mamata Didi
Stalin
Speaking in Tamil he said:
Bengalis and Tamils are like brothers and sisters
Hindutva are spreading poison, we need to stop it.
We have only one goal:BJP hatao, desh ke bachao.
Modi used to say he has no opponents. But now he abuses us.
Amit Shah is afraid to step on Bengal soil because of Mamata Banerjee.
Farooq Abdullah
India is in dangerPeople are being divided. North-East leaders said how BJP is dividing. There's fire everywhere. We netas have to sacrifice. See what's happening in Jammu and Kashmir. They call us Pakistanis.I am a proud Muslim who is proud of India.Every Kashmiri wants to be part of IndiaWe want to stay togetherIn four-and-a-half years, they have troubled us. EVMs are dangerous. We should not use EVMs. It's a 'thief' machine. We should all go to EC and ask them to give ballots. India can only become strong when we fight together. We will see later who becomes PM. We need to fight together. Come to Kashmir, see how gorgeous, god had made Kashmir.
BJP will be afraid of usThey will say we are here to remove PM Modi but the truth is this isn't about one man. This is about an idea. We are united here to fight an idea. Democracy is in danger. Modi is not the issue, issues are issue. We should discuss policies, not Modi. This is the first government that messes with numbers. They call everyone who opposes the government unpatriotic.
Kashmir won't be solved with guns but with love. I have only one fight left, that is to remove this government.
This is not a rally. It's a ralla.
Bengali thinks first, what India thinks.
Mamata Banerjee has always fought for oppressed.
Amartya Sen said India is arumentative.
Not enough to have 56 inches chest, PM should have big heart also
BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who is often critical of the government, has also arrived.
This is Bengal and Mamata Banerjee's 'kamal'.
I came running when Didi called. I see the younger generation.
People ask me why I speak against BJP? It's because I can't speak against truth.
Women who accumulated wealth were left in limbo due to demonetizaiton.
Isse zyada jaandar, shaandar aur damdaar rally maine kabhi nahin dekha
Jignesh Mevani greets the audience with the cliched 'ami tomake bhalo bashi' in Bengali.
There is exploitation of everyone from tribals to Dalits: Jignesh MevaniEven SC judges are worried, have to hold press conference. We have to come together to beat BJP/RSS: Jignesh MevaniHope we will make India a secular, socialist nation together. Jai bhim, Jai bharat: Jignesh Mevani
Brigade Parade Ground has filled up to capacity long before the scheduled programme time of 12 noon.
While the national leaders were yet to arrive at 11.30 am, all the TMC leaders, MPs, MLAs have arrived and taken the designated seats. Singers kept the members of the audience regaled with songs praising TMC and kept the mood upbeat. TMC leader and singer Kabir Suman, sporting a skull cap sang songs the lyrics of which expectedly said BJP should be defeated through votes.
TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee and general secretary Subrata Bakshi were among the first ones to arrive early on Saturday and co-ordinate the proceedings.
The leaders all walked in together - Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Tejaswhi Pratap and others.
HD Kumaraswamy - Karnataka CM
N Chandrababu Naidu - Andhra CM
Arvind Kejriwal - Delhi CM
Sharad Pawar - Former Maharashtra CM and deputy PM
Farooq Abdullah - Former J&K CM
Omar Abdullah - Former J&K CM
Akhilesh Yadav - Former UP CM
Hemant Soren- Former Jharkhand CM
Gegong Apang - Former Arunachal Pradesh CM
HD Devegowda - Former PM and Karntaka CM
If you live in Kolkata, it might be a good day to stay at home. Mamata Banerjee’s massive Opposition rally – with over 10 national leaders – are in town and the roads are likely to be jampacked. Over 40 lakh supporters are expected to attend from various parts.