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.
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.
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.
"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.
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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?"
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.