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News18.com
Last Updated: March 31, 2024, 17:11 IST
New Delhi, India
Days after the Enforcement Directorate arrested Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, top leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, will participate in the Opposition’s ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (save democracy) rally at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. The Maharally is being seen as the Opposition’s show of strength and unity, in the backdrop of the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the excise policy-linked money-laundering case.
Apart from Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the rally will also witness the participation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Bihar’s former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, among other leaders.
After attending the INDIA allaince rally in Delhi, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “Unemployment is rising and ED is being misused to suppress the opposition. An attempt is being made to rig the elections even before they take place. People want to save the Constitution, want to save democracy, that is why they have come to this ground in such large numbers.”
Accusing the ruling BJP of using central agencies to attack opposition leaders, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday urged people to vote against the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls if they wanted to save democracy in the country.
Addressing the INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister questioned why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using agencies against the opposition if it is confident of crossing the 400-seat mark in the upcoming polls.
After attending the INDIA bloc’s ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, AAP leader Sandeep Pathak said, “People who came here today believed that what PM Modi did was not right. PM Modi might have been attacking others, but this time he has attacked Arvind Kejriwal, so he will have to suffer.”
“We received everyone’s support at the rally of INDIA bloc, and going forward too, we will walk unitedly. If he (Sanjay Singh) is in jail, that doesn’t mean he is weak,” said Anita Singh, wife of jailed AAP leader Sanjay Singh, on INDIA bloc’s ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday described the RSS-BJP combine as “poison” that has “destroyed” the country, and called on all opposition parties to unite to defeat the ruling party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
This election is to save democracy, the country and the Constitution, he said at ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally of the opposition INDIA bloc at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
On the INDIA alliance rally in Delhi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, “… This fight they are fighting is not to save democracy but to save corruption, to save anti-Sanatan voices, to save cut money… This fight is to save these dishonest people who had gathered on the stage together. Most of them are out on bail and accused of serious offences… When Lalu Yadav was arrested in the fodder scam, his wife came forward. Now Arvind Kejriwal’s wife has come forward. She comes in front of the camera and reads something… They do not agree on basic things like a leader, or guarantee… For them, the C in democracy stands for corruption, but for us, the ‘C’ stands for competence, clarity for Viksit Bharat, commitment, and capability…”
On Maha rally by INDIA alliance at Ramlila Maidan, said, “In Ramlila Maidan, those who put dots in between thBJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla e name of this country and speak about saving the nation. They are actually there to save their family… India’s ‘tukde tukde’ is in the DNA of Congress… Yuvraj is not even ready to accept India as a nation and he also demands interference of foreign soil.”
At the Maha Rally at the Ramlila Maidan, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “I think that they (BJP) are trapped in illusion. I want to remind them of a thousand-year-old tale and its message. When Lord Ram was fighting for the truth, He did not have power or resources, He did not even have a chariot. Ravan had a chariot, resources, an army and gold. Lord Ram had the truth, hope, faith, modesty, patience and courage…”
Sharad Pawar said, “…This government (central government) has arrested the Delhi CM, Jharkhand CM and also put many other leaders from different states in jail. This action is an attack on democracy and the Constitution…It is our responsibility to save it…”
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives at the Ramlila Maidan for the INDIA alliance rally.
Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren said, “I am standing in front of you as the voice of 50 per cent of India’s women population and 9 per cent of the tribal community…Today this gathering in this historic ground is testifying that you all have come from every part of the country to end the dictatorship…”
Quoting Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal said, “I am not asking for votes today… I invite 140 crore Indians to make a new India… India is a great nation with thousands of years old civilisation… I think about Mother India from inside the jail and she is in pain… Let’s make a new India… If INDIA Alliance is given an opportunity, we will build a new India.”
“I present 6 guarantees on behalf of INDIA Alliance. First, there will be no power cuts in the whole country. Second, electricity would be free for the poor people. Third, we will make government schools in every village. Fourth, we will make Mohalla Clinics in every village. We will make a multi-speciality government hospital in every district. Everyone would get free treatment,” she added.
“Fifth, farmers would be given the correct price for the crops. Sixth, the people of Delhi have faced injustice for 75 years… We will give statehood to Delhi… We will complete these 6 guarantees in 5 years. I have made all the planning from where the money for these guarantees will come…”
“Your own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from jail. Before reading this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in jail, did the Prime Minister do the right thing? Do you believe that Kejriwal Ji is a true patriot and honest person? These BJP people are saying that Kejriwal ji is in jail, he should resign. Should he resign? Your Kejriwal is a lion, they will not be able to keep him in jail for long,” Sunita Kejriwal said.
#WATCH | INDIA alliance rally: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says, "Your own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from jail. Before reading this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in jail, did the Prime… pic.twitter.com/aZsdXXvJOO
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
From the Maha Rally at the Ramlila Maidan, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “Today, the country is going through some tough times. People are being jailed without any investigation. This is ‘Kalyug ka Amrit Kaal’.”
“I am not talking about Umar Khalid or Mohammad Zubair, I am talking about your elected representatives. It is not surprising to me. Myself, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, all three former CMs are under house arrest… The one who violates the law is a traitor,” she added.
#WATCH | Delhi: Kalpana Soren, the wife of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, arrives at the Ramlila Maidan to attend the INDIA alliance rally.
She says, "…We are doing this to save the democracy of our country. The INDIA Alliance parties are… pic.twitter.com/yZUVRgMijh
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
Uddhav Thackeray said, “Now, their (BJP’s) dream is of crossing 400 (seats)… It is time that one party and one person’s government have to go… We are not here for the election campaign, we are here to protect democracy… BJP washed the people who they once alleged of corruption. They washed them in a washing machine and made them clean. How can a party full of corrupts run the government?… The BJP is calling this rally, a rally of thugs…”
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at the Ramlila Maidan for the INDIA alliance rally pic.twitter.com/1vkYRs5PmJ
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
Addressing the rally, AAP Minister Gopal Rai said, “Protests have erupted in the whole country after March 21. No one is able to understand why a sitting CM has been arrested. But it is not just Arvind Kejriwal. Before arresting the Delhi CM, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was arrested… With the misuse of the ED and CBI, democracy is under attack…”
NCP SCP Chief Sharad Pawar landed in Delhi to attend the INDIA Alliance Maha Rally at the Ramlila Maidan.
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