With the crucial Lok Sabha election just a year away, leaders from AAP, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), BRS and BJP came on one platform at the ABP Network's 'Ideas Of India' Summit to throw light on their respective parties' strategy in the run-up to 2024 polls.
While AAP's Raghav Chadha, Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi, BRS' K Kavitha pitched for an united Opposition to take on the "mighty BJP", the saffron party's MP Poonam Mahajan said there was no challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP Is 'Mighty' Because People Have Full Faith In PM Modi: Poonam Mahajan
"Everybody is saying mighty BJP and hum sab saath milke larenge. But, Modi nehi toh aur kaun? (Who else except Modi?) Please decide that before the 2024 election," Mahajan, BJP MP from Mumbai North Central, told the Opposition leaders.
In a swipe at the Congress, Mahajan said India has come from being the "fragile 5" to the becoming the fifth largest economy under the leadership of PM Modi.
"India is growing higher at 6 per cent. When you see recession all around the world, you see India as a bright spot because of the able leadership of PM Modi," Mahajan said.
Exuding confidence that BJP would return to power in 2024, Mahajan said BJP is "mighty" because people trusted PM Modi in 2014 and also in 2019 with greater numbers.
"The people of the country have faith in PM Modi. Before 2014, there were scams and only scams, but this is not the case with the BJP government. BJP fulfills what it promises. Earlier, if one rupee used to go out from Delhi, then 15 paise used to reach the public. Now, if one rupee goes out from Delhi, the whole amount directly goes to the public's account," the BJP leader said.
'BJP Can Be Handed A More Crushing Defeat Than What Indira Gandhi Suffered In 1977 If...': Raghav Chadha
Speaking at the ABP Summit, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said BJP could be handed a more crushing defeat than what Indira Gandhi suffered in 1977 if the Oppostion parties fought 2024 polls under one symbol. Chadha said that a new brand and a new idea of politics was needed in the country to challenge the BJP.
The AAP leader said BJP can be defeated with the formula of "3Ms" -- new message, new messenger and new model.
"In 1977, Congress and the powerful Indira Gandhi were defeated by the formula of 'one candidate against one candidate'. That election was won by the power of the people. If we go by the formula of 'one candidate' against BJP in 2024, then BJP can be defeated," he said.
Chadha said BJP lost nine of its most formidable allies in last five years. "BJP stands weakened and all right thinking individuals, people need to come together to defeat BJP in 2024," he said.
Hitting out at the BJP for dragging Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia's name in the liquor policy case, Chadha said only a coward uses state agencies like ED and CBI to attack political opponents.
"BJP unleashing state instruments like ED and CBI shows how frightened it is in fighting AAP electorally. AAP leaders are not scared of such agencies," he said.
Chadha also highlighted that unemployment was at a 45-year high under the PM Modi government and inflation at a three-decadal high. He also said income levels of farmers had reduced by 30 per cent in four states of India and nearly 30 farmers die by suicide every day as per NCRB data.
People Will Always Remember Shiv Sena As That Of The Thackerays: Priyanka Chaturvedi
Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also attacked the BJP for allegedly using Central agencies like ED and CBI to "do away with the Opposition altogether".
"While the Opposition is speaking up for people, housewives and on topics like cost of living, crony capitalists, BJP only talks of how it keeps adding to its election tools these arsenals known as central agencies. They are talking about how do you make ECI (Election Commission of India) the Entirely Compromised Insititution of India. They are talking about how do you make ED ( Enforcement Directorate) the Extended Department of the BJP," Chaturvedi said.
She said agnecies like ED and CBI have become BJP's toolkit to keep consolidating their voter base by attacking the Opposition using them. The Sena leader said CBI was no more a caged parrot, but it is a "comatose parrot" on its death bed. "How can hatred become a tool to consolidate your votes," Chaturvedi asked.
Speaking on the Sena name row, Chaturvedi said people would always remember Shiv Sena as that of the Thackerays no matter how much the Election Commission interferes and changes the status quo.
"We will continue to be the Shiv Sena that speaks for the people of Maharahstra," she further said.
Adani Part Of PM Modi's 'Extended Parivaar', Must Be Probed, Says K Kavitha
K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and MLC, said the BJP must be defeated in 2024 and hit out at the Modi government over the Adani-Hindenburg row. Calling businessman Gautam Adani part of PM Modi's "extended parivaar", the BRS leader demanded a probe in the matter.
The stocks of Adani Group have taken a beating since US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group has denied any wrongdoing and has threatened to sue Hindenburg.
"Adani is part of Modi's extended parivaar. A listed company loses Rs 12 lakh crore, LIC suffers loss of Rs 80,000 crore but the PM says nothing. If PM Modi is not shielding Adani, then why is he not being probed? Why ED and CBI are not proactive in probing Adani," K Kavitha said.
She also said that while the British used the policy of "divide and rule", BJP was following the policy of "raid and rule" to divide parties.
The Telangana leader said BJP had promised to bring back black money in 2014, but it has only increased under the Modi regime. "In the next five years, BJP gave us three black laws which resulted in deaths of 750 farmers," Kavitha said, referring to the now repealed farm reform laws.