Opposition Meeting LIVE: This Selfish Alliance Wants To Deprive India Of Economic Development, Says Smriti Irani
Opposition Parties Meeting Live Updates: Please follow this space for all the breaking news and latest updates pertaining to the meeting of non-BJP parties in Patna.
In response to ABP news's question on opposition unity, Smriti Irani said that no one should be confused, their target is not Modi but India's vault.
"They don't have a common ideology, they are just a bunch of unsatisfied people who gathered here (Patna) today against PM Modi," says BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Patna opposition meeting.
Political parties which never saw eye to eye came together today- this selfish alliance wants to deprive India of economic development, says Union Minister BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani on the Opposition meeting.
We have different ideologies, but we have come together to save the diversity and integrity of the country," says former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
The way our constitution, secularism and democracy is being attacked, it started in Jammu and Kashmir. And, now it's happening across the country:
"Just like the JP movement, which started here (Patna), our united front will get the blessings of the people," says NCP supremo Sharad Pawar after opposition meeting in Patna.
"We are preparing a common agenda to fight and will soon hold another meeting on July 10 or 12 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh," says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at a joint press conference of opposition parties in Patna.
BJP leader Sushil Modi criticised the recent meeting of Opposition parties, claiming that it produced no significant results other than deciding on the timing of their next meeting. Modi emphasised these parties' earlier commitment to run together in the 2024 elections, but claimed that such gatherings would have little impact on the BJP's popularity.
Despite internal differences, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasised the importance of preserving shared ideologies. Recognising the various points of view within the opposition camp, Gandhi asserted that the coming battle is one of ideologies.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of remaining united in the face of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to reshape history. Banerjee expressed the collective goal of preserving historical truths while vehemently opposing what she called a "fascist government".
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann were conspicuous by their absence at the joint press conference after the opposition meeting.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that his party is ready to make sacrifices for the nation, an indication that the party is ready to see past its differences on the Delhi ordinance row with AAP.
AIMIM President & MP, Asaduddin Owaisi attacks Opposition meeting, says, "We don't want Narendra Modi to become PM in 2024. But what is the track record of all these political leaders who have assembled there?"
There is no vacancy for the post of PM in 2024. Opposition unity is a lie, it is just for photos. Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar fought against the Emergency imposed by Congress but now they are joining hands with them: Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras
Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi had put Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar in jail but today they are welcoming Rahul Gandhi in Patna. I wonder as to what has happened in politics: BJP national president JP Nadda, on Opposition meeting.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressing the Opposition meeting in Patna.
Congress has to answer as to why they will not support this anti-federal bill that govt of India is trying to enforce on the people of this nation, especially in the case of Delhi govt: Telangana Minister KTR Rao.
Today, the unity of political parties is not that important, rather it is important to unite people on the issues prevailing in the country. Congress and BJP are responsible for the problems our country is facing today. If political parties unite taking BJP or Congress along with them, it will not benefit the country, he added. (ANI)
"We have got info that Rahul Gandhi and BJP have done an agreement...Congress should clear its stand against this unconstitutional Ordinance, why they are taking so long in doing so?," AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement, as quoted by ANI.
Opposition leaders' meeting to chalk out a joint strategy to take on BJP in next year's Lok Sabha elections, underway in Bihar's Patna.
Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reaches Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leaves from Patna Circuit House to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as reported by ANI.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha reaches Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as reported by ANI.
"I especially thank Congress for publicly announcing that they cannot alone defeat PM Modi and that they need the support of others to do so," Union Minister Smriti Irani said on Opposition Meeting, as quoted by ANI.
There is a war of ideology going on in India. On one side is Congress party's 'Bharat Jodo' ideology and on the other RSS and BJP's 'Bharat Todo' ideology ...Congress party's DNA is in Bihar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to party workers in Bihar's Patna, as reported by ANI.
"If we win Bihar, then we can win across the country," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to party workers in Bihar's Patna, as quoted by ANI.
16 opposition parties are meeting today to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The meeting of the Opposition parties will be held between 11 AM and 4 PM.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury reaches Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as reported by ANI.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar reaches Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as reported by ANI.
"Ravi Shankar dulha ki chinta na kare...Hamara dulha taiyar hai, aap baaraat ke swagat ki tayari kro...This opposition meeting is to unitedly raise voices to save the democracy," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, as quoted by ANI.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi arrive in Bihar's Patna for the Opposition leaders' meeting.
Posters taking a jibe at the Opposition unity, portraying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as 'Devdas of real life', put up outside the BJP office in Patna, Bihar, as reported by ANI.
RJD workers flaunt party symbol ahead of the Opposition Meeting in Patna, Bihar.
Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut leave for Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as quoted by the news agency ANI.
"We all want to fight together against BJP and our agenda is to remove the BJP govt... We will take a decision on this (on supporting AAP against the Centre's ordinance) before the Parliament session," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, as he leaves for the #OppositionMeeting in Bihar's Patna, as quoted by ANI.
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, arrives in Bihar's Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting, as reported by news agency ANI.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will be in Patna on June 23 to attend the opposition leaders’ meeting convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, party leader Arvind Sawant said on Thursday. The meeting has been called to forge unity among the opposition parties and chalk out a joint strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
“Tomorrow all the leaders are meeting at Patna. Uddhav ji is also going there. Let us see what happens there. They are very mature and experienced people of the country,” said Sawant.
The Samajwadi Party will be the only party from Uttar Pradesh attending the opposition leaders' meeting in Patna on Friday, with BSP supremo Mayawati not being invited while the Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary will skip the meet due to a family programme. However, Chaudhary hoped the meeting will be an "important milestone in the path of opposition unity".
The meeting of opposition parties has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav has been urging all opposition parties to join hands to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.
Targeting the parties which are slated to participate in the opposition conclave, Mayawati on Thursday termed the meeting as more about joining of hands than hearts. The BSP chief has not been invited for the opposition meeting.
Opposition leaders are "scared" and gathering in Patna to protect their "own interests", BJP MP and actor Ravi Kishan charged on Thursday, a day before a meeting of Opposition parties in Bihar's capital. "People born in air-conditioned rooms will not be able to stand in front of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi.... The Opposition has no face. Don't know what welfare they will do for the country. They are gathering in Patna for their own interests," he told reporters, as the news agency PTI quoted.
He asserted that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "The opposition will lose the election badly... Only a handful of people in the country are opposing the Modi government by appearing in TV and newspapers. Modi is the voice of 140 crore people," the Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh said.
"Leaders of Opposition parties are scared of action by ED (Enforcement Directorate). They are out on bail, everyone is scared...the scared Opposition has come together," he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin arrived here late Thursday evening to attend the meeting of leaders opposed to BJP which has been convened by his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar.
Stalin, who also heads the DMK, was received at the airport by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. The meeting is slated to be held here on Friday. It has been called Kumar, who is also the JD(U) supremo to take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann offer prayers at Patna Sahib Gurudwara.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar at Patna Circuit House.
Mamata Banerjee has met former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav in Patna. She says Yadav is fit to fight the BJP, despite spending several years in jail and hospital.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has arrived for the Opposition's mega meet in Patna.
"Arvind Kejriwal is the first person there (in the opposition meeting) who is asking to keep his agenda (support against Ordinance on control of power in Delhi) above everything. They (other opposition leaders) might ask him to leave," says BJP leader Manoj Tiwari.
Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will attend the Friday meeting of Opposition leaders called by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on Friday. However, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has said that she will not be attending the meeting of the Opposition leaders in Patna. In a series of tweets, the former Uttar Pradesh CM said that parties like Congress and BJP do not have the ability to implement the constitution of Bhimrao Ambedkar.
NCP chief will reach Patna for the Opposition parties' mega meeting tomorrow. He will address party workers at the NCP office in the city at 3 pm.
Background
Opposition Parties Meeting Live Updates: Hello and welcome to our live blog on the meeting of non-BJP parties in Patna. Please follow this space for all the breaking news and the latest updates pertaining to the same. The Friday meeting of opposition parties has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Bihar Chief Minister is hopeful of uniting the Opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls 2024, the job will prove to be a Herculean task.
In the latest development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to opposition parties to discuss the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in the national capital at the June 23 meeting of non-BJP parties in Patna while asserting that similar ordinances can be brought for other states too.
Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convener, stressed the first thing to be discussed in the meeting should revolve around defeating the bill related to the Centre's ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.
According to news agency PTI, the Opposition meeting in Patna will not discuss a possible prime ministerial candidate and will focus on deciding the common agenda for the parties to work on in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
It cited sources from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) as saying that there are no talks on the lines of picking a prime ministerial candidate. "The meeting is the first step. A common agenda will be finalised," said an RJD leader who did not want to be named, as quoted by PTI.
At least 18 "like-minded" Opposition parties are likely to attend the meeting on June 23. All the "like-minded" Opposition leaders are hoping that this time they will be able to get a head start on the process of alliance formation, unlike last time.
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