Opposition Meeting HIGHLIGHTS: Face Not Important For PM Post, Fight Between India, RSS' Idea Of India: Congress
Opposition Parties Meeting Bengaluru HIGHLIGHTS: The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today and another formal meeting on Tuesday.
"INDIA will push back the assault on its people by the BJP, on their livelihoods, their sense of belonging and hard-earned freedoms. Equality, Liberty, Social Justice and Fraternity is the bedrock of INDIA," tweets CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
"The main allies of the NDA are the ED, CBI and IT (Income Tax). Why didn't they (NDA) present them as their main allies? Half the people sitting there (in the NDA meeting) are defectors," says CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on NDA meeting in Delhi.
"This fight is between to idea of India and RSS' idea of India. All opposition parties will fight the upcoming election together. Face is not important (for PM post), what is important today is who will raise the issues of people," says Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal.
"Around 26 parties were present in the meeting. We discussed several issues of public importance. We have arrived at a joint decision to fight the BJP together. All parties are now under the banner of 'INDIA'. There are several lined-up proposals like making a coordination committee. We believe that the country is under significant threat. There are many important issues like unemployment, inflation, women's security & more. They need to be addressed urgently," says CPI leader D Raja.
"The priority today is to safeguard the secular, democratic character of the Indian Republic which is under multi-dimensional assault. For that, it is essential that those who are doing the assault must be kept away from controlling the government and state power," says CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
"We are deciding everything collectively. Let the elections be over then we will see who can be the leader of the coalition government," says CPI general secretary D Raja.
"I am absolutely delighted that 26 parties have come together and have decided to work together to fight against the powers and forces that have taken India in a direction which the Constitution makers never thought of," says Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.
Held the second successful meeting.
Some people are thinking that we are fighting for the family, but the country is our family. The fight is against dictatorship
We want to assure don't be scared, we are here.
One man or a party can't be an entire country.
Earlier when we met in Patna, there were 16 parties, this time it was 26, good that the clan is increasing.
Modi had the opportunity for nine years, but there is not one sector that we can say had progressed.
Railways used to work fine 5-6 years back, but now it has been ruined.
They have sold everything to their people.
Everyone is dissappointed today- youths, farmers, traders, women.
The fight is against BJP's ideology and ideas.
The country's wealth is being snatched from people and handed over to a few industrialists.
Unemployment is spreading, and prices rising.
This is not a fight between two political formations that is Opposition and BJP.
This is a fight for the country's voice that is being suppressed.
The fight is between NDA and INDIA, Modi and INDIA, his ideoligy and INDIA.
You know who wins if someone goes against India, dont even need to say.
Will prepare an action plan where together we will talk about what we are going to do
NDA is still there but does not exist
NDA can you challenge INDIA?
If anybody has a challenge, catch us if you can
Save India from disaster
India will win, BJP will lose.
The alliance will be called Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
A great achievement for us all 26 parties together solved the problems of the country.
11-member coordination committee will be set up.
Meeting again in Mumbai to discuss names of coordinators and members will be announced, date to be announced soon.
Leaders of Opposition parties assemble for press conference after meeting.
Opposition meeting a constructive one, its outcome will be good for the country, says Mamata Banerjee.
"I am happy that 26 parties are present in Bengaluru to work unitedly. Together, we are in government in 11 states today," tweets Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over Oppn meeting.
The second day of the mega opposition meeting of the like-minded parties in Bengaluru concluded with the leaders deciding a new name for the grand alliance. Congress has proposed the alliance to be called 'INDIA' which stands for:
I - Indian
N - National
D - Democratic
I - Inclusive
A - Alliance
Omar Abdullah on opposition meeting in Bengaluru:
"It's important we put up united stand against everything going wrong. Constitution eroded, secular fabric undermined."
PM Modi made a complete mess of almost every sector in his 10-year rule. Time to get rid of him: Arvind Kejriwal on opposition meet
"(This meeting) is important for the country. We have to save the country and our democracy," says RJD supremo Lalu Yadav in Bengaluru, where he is participating in the mega opposition meeting.
"We all have come together to save the country's democracy, constitution and diversity," says Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav on opposition meeting being held in Bengaluru.
It will be constructive meeting. Its outcome will be good for country: Mamata Banerjee on opposition meet underway in Bengaluru.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Bengaluru:
"The (Opposition's) meeting is important to save the country and its people. Two-third of India's population is against the BJP. We are all united to remove the BJP."
NCP leader Sharad Pawar joins opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru which will hold deliberations on giving the grouping of 26 parties a name, structure and common agenda to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in Bengaluru, where the mega opposition meeting is being held today:
"The way our Constitution and democracy are being disobeyed, all the opposition parties need to come together to save the idea of India."
At the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said - "Every institution is being turned into a weapon against the opposition. CBI, ED, and Income Tax are routinely used. False criminal cases are filed against our leaders so that they get caught in the legal process. Constitutional authorities are used to suspend our MPs. MLAs are being blackmailed or bribed to move to BJP and topple governments," news agency ANI reported citing sources.
Opposition leaders of 26 parties gather in Bengaluru on the second day of the joint Opposition meeting.
Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, arrive for the second day of the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as reported by ANI.
Jharkhand CM and JMM executive president Hemant Soren arrive for the second day of the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as reported by ANI.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, and party MP Manoj Jha arrive for the second day of a joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Lalu Yadav says, "We have to give farewell to Narendra Modi," as quoted by ANI.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leader Rahul Gandhi arrive for the second day of the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) National President Rajeev Ranjan (Lalan) Singh and Bihar minister-party leader Sanjay Kumar Jha arrive for the second day of a joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh arrive for the second day of joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrives in Bengaluru. The second day of the joint Opposition meeting is scheduled for today.
Ahead of the mega session scheduled to take place on the second day of Opposition leaders' meeting in Bengaluru today, posters and banners attacking Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were put up at Bengaluru's Chalukya Circle, Windsor Manor Bridge and on the Airport road near Hebbal, as reported by the news agency ANI. All the Opposition party leaders gathered for a dinner meeting at Bengaluru's Taj West End Hotel on Monday.
The second day of the joint Opposition meeting to begin in Bengaluru today. 26 like-minded parties are participating in the meeting.
PM has accepted that he cannot take on Opposition unity, he also needs support of 38 parties, says Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera
"Meeting has gone well as expected by the country," says Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar says after the dinner meeting.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra President Jayant Patil says Sharad Pawar will join the opposition meeting tomorrow in Bengaluru.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra President Jayant Patil says Sharad Pawar will join the opposition meeting tomorrow in Bengaluru.
MK Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, Nitish Kumar, Hemant Soren, Bhagwant Mann, Nitish Kumar, and Lalu Prasad arrive for the Opposition dinner meeting in Bengaluru.
Janata Dal(United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and party leader and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav arrive in Bengaluru.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and AAP MP Sanjay Singh arrive in Bengaluru.
Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray arrive in Bengaluru for the opposition meeting.
"I hope that something more substantive will be done in this meeting. I haven't seen the agenda for the meeting yet, let's see what agenda is put in front of us," says National Conference leader Omar Abdullah as he arrives in Bengaluru.
"As far as 2024 Lok Sabha Elections are concerned, we have good expectations. This time BJP will be in trouble," says TMC MLA Tapas Roy.
"Almost all of them (opposition party leaders) have come. The opposition meeting will be held as per the schedule," says Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
On one hand, there is the "tried and tested" leadership of PM Narendra Modi and on the other, there is Congress's "dagger of deceit", says BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
"It is Narendra Modi who has spoiled the economy of the country, not Opposition parties...All the Opposition parties are coming together..." says Karnataka CM and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar receives Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee ahead of the opposition meeting in Bengaluru.
"It is always a pleasure to come to Karnataka because I have studied many chapters of my life here. Now another historical chapter of the country will be written from here! History is linked here, now future will also be linked…" tweets Akhilesh Yadav.
Karnataka Ministers MB Patil and Lakshmi Hebbalkar receive Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav in Bengaluru ahead of Opposition meeting.
"Modi ji had said in the Parliament that "one alone" is enough for all, then why did he need 29-30 parties," said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the meeting.
"Our alliance works together in the Parliament. Their only aim is to threaten the opposition with the misuse of agencies to destroy democracy. But we are fearless, we will face their conspiracies firmly and will raise the voice of the people," he added.
The Congress took a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of its crucial meeting with like-minded parties in Bengaluru.
"Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it," said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh at a press conference in Bengaluru.
"They (opposition parties) don't have common agenda or ideology. There only ideology of 'give and take' is leaving the people in the lurch," says BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee arrives in Bengaluru for the two-day mega meeting.
"...2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat...I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out..." says Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives in Bengaluru ahead of the meeting.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and party leader Rahul Gandhi arrive in Bengaluru. They were received by Karnataka Chief Minster Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have left for Bengaluru to attend the Opposition meeting. Around 26 Opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will also attend the meeting.
Speaking on the agenda of the Opposition meet, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain told ANI, "There will be a detailed discussion on what will be our ideological platform, issues, 2024 agenda, and what will be our joint action...name of opposition will also be decided in the meeting only."
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi has left from Delhi for the Opposition Meeting in Bengaluru. Around 26 Opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session to chalk out a strategy to unitedly fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
On Congress' stand to oppose the Delhi Ordinance, the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "This is not about just one person. If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save democracy & Constitution. No individual is bigger than the country," as quoted by ANI.
A day after the Congress extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party against the Centre's Ordinance in Delhi, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that the saffron party is having sleepless nights after seeing the opposition unity. "After seeing opposition unity, BJP is getting sleepless nights", Chadha said, as quoted by ANI.
Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said that JD(S) should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power and they have no principles and ideology, as reported by ANI.
"...We know that for JD(S), secular politics is something which they don't truly believe in. They have always had alliances with BJP even before. So, this is nothing new. I think the tag of Janata Dal (Secular) needs to go. They should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power. They have no principles, no ideology. Only power matters to them and Mr Kumaraswamy. I think it will have a deep impact on JD(S) in Karnataka...It will be the end of JD(S) in Karnataka," Dinesh Gundu Rao said, as quoted by ANI,
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday departed from 10 Janpath in Delhi to attend the Opposition meet in Bengaluru. The two-day joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru will begin today.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and party leader Supriya Sule will attend the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow, however, they are going to skip it today, party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase has clarified. Tapase tweeted, "NCP National President Shri Sharad Pawar Saheb & working President Smt Supriya Sule will attend the meeting called by opposition parties on Tuesday 18th July in Bengaluru."
Ahead of the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, "Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan," as quoted by ANI. On any invitation from NDA, he says, "NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front."
Ahead of the Opposition meeting, Uddhav Thackeray Faction MP Sanjay Raut said that there will be discussion on many things including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, what will be the name of the front, as reported by ANI.
On AAP's participation in the joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge says, "We are very clear on what is happening in Delhi. The Ordinance route that they (the Centre) have taken to take away the powers of the State Givt is not in good taste. Today it is happening in Delhi, tomorrow it might happen in Karnataka. So, we are against this dictatorial attitude of the Central Govt," as quoted by the news agency ANI.
Background
Prominent Opposition leaders will arrive in Bengaluru on Monday for the two-day mega meeting slated to take place as parties seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The session comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after Ajit Pawar-led faction joined the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government and also the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), NCP, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Janta Dal (United) (JDU) will be among the prominent outfits that will take part in the session chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
While, fifteen parties attended the last meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, in the second huddle, top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to finalise their plans and announce their further course in forging a united bloc.
In their first meeting in Patna, the parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, differences emerged as the Congress remained non-committal on the Delhi ordinance row. However, ahead of the second meeting, the grand old party announced its support in fighting the Central ordinance over Delhi services and soon after, the Aam Aadmi Party confirmed that it will take part in the second deliberation aimed at ensuring a united Opposition bloc to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The AAP welcomed the Congress' decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi. The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.
Bengaluru Oppn Meeting: Arvind Kejriwal, MK Stalin, Sharad Pawar, & More Expected To Take Part
Posters featuring several prominent Opposition leaders came up in Bengaluru on Sunday and those featured included Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, former Jammu & Kashmir CM and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Singh, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M) Secretary-General Sitaram Yechury, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Besides them, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren are expected to participate in the meeting.
The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting, news agency ANI reported sources as saying.
Common Concerns Brought Opposition Parties To Oppose BJP In 2024 LS Elections: P Chidambaram
In an interview with news agency PTI, former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram stressed that the Opposition parties have several objectives in common as they are opposed to the social and economic policies of the Modi government. The parties are concerned about slow economic growth, high inflation and rising unemployment, as well as about the curtailment of civil liberties, the gagging of the media, the emasculation of institutions, and the misuse of investigating agencies, he said.
They are concerned about the security situation at the borders. These common concerns have brought them together to oppose the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chidambaram added, as per PTI.
BJP Chief Nadda Calls It 'Protection of Dynasties Alliance'
Addressing a rally in Rajasthan, BJP chief JP Nadda attacked the Opposition parties saying that these days the parties have started an alliance that he dubbed "Protection of Dynasties Alliance". “Now-a-days a new scam is being done by the opposition, that is PDA i.e. Patriotic Democratic Alliance whereas I call PDA as Protection Of Dynasties Alliance i.e. it is a way to save familyism,” Nadda said, as quoted by ANI.
"It is a way to protect dynastic politics. All these people join the alliance to save their families while Modi works to take the country forward. We should understand this difference,” he added.
Citing PM Narendra Modi's comments, BJP National Spokesperson Rajyavardhan Rathore said the Congress and other opposition parties are fighting for their existence, to secure their own future, and not for the country. "As PM Modi said, opposition parties are fighting for their own existence and securing the future of their children, not for the country," he remarked.
Following the four-hour Opposition meeting on June 23, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had stated that "very positive talks were held". "We have decided to contest (Lok Sabha elections) together. Another meeting of all (opposition) parties will be held to determine the next steps. Almost everything will be finalised at that meeting. Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over the meeting early next month," he mentioned.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called it a "battle of ideologies" and said, "Indeed, there will be differences amongst us but we have decided to work together and protect the ideologies shared by us".
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