I.N.D.I.A 'Fighting Against A Shakti': Rahul Gandhi As Bloc Leaders Gather For Show Of Strength In Mumbai

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are among the prominent leaders attending Rahul Gandhi's mega rally in Mumbai

I.N.D.I.A. leaders at the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil' rally in Mumbai on Sunday.

A mega rally organised by the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc took place in Mumbai on Sunday evening, showcasing a united front ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Key leaders from various political parties are participating in the event to demonstrate their strength and solidarity.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are among the prominent leaders attending the rally.

जुडे़गा भारत - जीतेगा INDIA 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gaQH4lvW27

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 17, 2024

At the conclusion ceremony of the  Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "There is a word 'Shakti' (power) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This is true. The soul of the King in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI, and Income Tax department."

In a veiled remark, the Wayanad MP went on to say, "A senior leader from Maharashtra left Congress and cried in from of my mother and said 'Sonia ji, I am ashamed that I don't have the power to fight this Shakti. I do not want to go to jail.' Thousands of people have been threatened like this..." Notably, former chief minister Ashok Chavan's unexpected resignation from the grand old party had made headlines last month.

VIDEO | Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil: "We are not fighting against one particular political party or person. We are fighting against a 'shakti' (higher power). A veteran leader of this state at the time of leaving the Congress party told my mother that he did not have the strength to… pic.twitter.com/Ngi8Zj2MUN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2024

Exhorting the youth, he remarked, "You are Bharat Mata and it is your responsibility to fight them (the BJP-led NDA government). The entire country is against Agniveer (Agnipath scheme). I walked for 4,000 kilometres, no youth said they wanted to become Agniveer..." "I am ready to do anything for you and this country. This country is of love and not hatred. Hatred is being purposely spread to distract you to be able to loot your money. Don't allow hatred to spread. 'Nafrat ke bazaar me mahobbat ki dukaan kholo' (Open a shop of love in a market spelling hatred)," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that "Modi’s guarantee is for the rich; our guarantee is for the common man", as reported by news agency PTI.

VIDEO | Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil: “Earlier, we announced ‘five guarantees’ of Congress and we added five more to it later for the poor, farmers, women and youth. Now, we (INDIA alliance partners) have agreed upon 25 guarantees, and it will be announced soon. Modi’s guarantee is… pic.twitter.com/RzW2KKCIl5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2024

"The 'Shakti' Rahul Gandhi was talking about, I will say openly that Modiji has this Shakti in the form of RSS and Manuvaad They want to crush us using this Shakti..." he further commented.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: At the conclusion ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "The 'Shakti' Rahul Gandhi was talking about, I will say openly that Modiji has this Shakti in the form of RSS and Manuvaad... They want… pic.twitter.com/qhtTYkfffL

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2024

Electoral Bond Is BJP's 'White Collar Corruption': MK Stalin During I.N.D.I.A's Show Of Strength 

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin emphasised the importance of addressing electoral bond issues, referring to them as "white-collar corruption," while expressing the bloc's commitment to forming a secular and inclusive government at the Centre.

"INDIA bloc will form truly secular and inclusive government at Centre," he remarked, as per PTI. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin said, "He calls I.N.D.I.A. alliance corrupt, electoral bond scam proved BJP is corrupt. Who collected 8,000 crore in the name of electoral bonds. It is a white collar corruption of the BJP. Can such a PM talk about corruption?"

I have come here to convey my wishes to my dear brother, Rahul Gandhi. Your journey has reached Mumbai today, and it will reach Delhi soon.

The massive public gatherings during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra made the BJP lose sleep.

: Tamil Nadu CM Shri @mkstalin

📍Mumbai… pic.twitter.com/WSEwoZTmzs

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 17, 2024

"Since Opposition named its alliance INDIA, BJP stopped using the word India out of fear," PTI quoted the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as saying.

Ex-Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah highlighted the need to safeguard India for all citizens, regardless of their religion, underscoring the bloc's stance on inclusivity and equality.

“Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Manipur to Mumbai; this is our India. We have the power to vote, and we should take it as our responsibility to save this country. I request everyone to look at the VVPAT slip carefully after voting, to make sure that your votes went to the right party,” Abdullah remarked.

VIDEO | Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil: “Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Manipur to Mumbai; this is our India. We have the power to vote, and we should take it as our responsibility to save this country. I request everyone to look at the VVPAT slip carefully after voting, to make sure that… pic.twitter.com/VBSae6JEjN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2024

According to PTI, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav stressed that I.N.D.I.A bloc is fighting against the ideology of hate and not personally against PM Narendra Modi or Amit Shah.

Before the mega rally, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, and other leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, paid floral tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

#WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of the INDIA alliance pay floral tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ahead of their mega rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/MYyGkSUU9Q

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2024

 PDP president Mehbooba Mufti at the I.N.D.I.A. leaders’ rally in Mumbai claimed, "BJP people afraid of 'Gandhi' in Rahul Gandhi’s name." "BJP speaks of winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats in order to change Constitution," she further charged, as per PTI.

VIDEO | Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil: “People from different political ideologies and thoughts are gathered here, this is what India is all about. This is what our Constitution also teaches us; to stay together and united. The elections are fast approaching, and the people of this… pic.twitter.com/XBi7xfatbi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2024

Citing the Quit India movement, former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar remarked, "Mahatma Gandhi gave 'Quit India' call from Mumbai, INDIA leaders should from Mumbai vow to oust BJP from power."

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also arrived in Mumbai to attend the rally and claimed that the Lok Sabha election result would come as a shock to people. "This rally is a start and the results are going to be shocking...this time, the results of the Parliament elections will be shocking...seat-sharing formula will be decided soon. The whole country is shaken by the electoral bond scam," he told news agency ANI.

Ex-Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot termed the rally as "the beginning of our (I.N.D.I.A.) election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections."

Tejashwi Yadav, upon his arrival in Mumbai, expressed the bloc's commitment to addressing real issues such as unemployment, inflation, and the challenges faced by farmers and labourers. He also went on to allege that state governments are being toppled with the help of ED and CBI.

Akhilesh Yadav Cites Election Preparation In UP For Skipping Rahul Gandhi's Rally In Mumbai

However, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav issued a statement regretting his inability to attend the rally due to the Election Commission's announcement of nomination dates in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled from 20th March.

"The Election Commission has announced the elections yesterday, and the nomination process in Uttar Pradesh begins from 20th March. Due to the preparations for this, I am unable to attend the concluding program of the journey. I am not just hopeful but fully confident that the people, including farmers, youth, backward classes, Dalits, and women, will uproot the anti-people BJP in this election. The real success of this journey will be BJP's defeat in this election," he wrote in a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi.

Mega Rally Marks Conclusion of Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'

The mega rally in Mumbai marks the conclusion of Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' a mass outreach movement initiated ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi earlier undertook the 'Nyay Sankalp Padyatra' from Mani Bhavan, the home of Mahatma Gandhi in south Mumbai, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and Congress supporters. The padyatra, symbolising solidarity with India's struggle for independence, culminated at the August Kranti Maidan, where the Quit India movement began in 1942.