In pictures: At INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ rally, camaraderie & show of support for Kejriwal

The rally held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan had leaders from across Opposition parties in attendance. ThePrint brings you scenes from the ground.

Workers put hoardings of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal before the INDIA bloc's 'Loktantra Bachao' rally at the Ramlila ground | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: With elections just around the corner, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Sunday denounced the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “match-fixing”.

Addressing the Opposition INDIA bloc’s ‘Loktantra Bachao (Save Democracy)’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Gandhi said: “When pressure is put on umpires and captain, players are bought off and the match is won, in cricket, it is called match-fixing. We have Lok Sabha polls before us. Who selected the umpires? Before the match started, two players were arrested… Narendra Modi is trying to do match-fixing in these polls”.

The mega rally saw a gamut of opposition leaders. Apart from Rahul, Congress leaders Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Peoples’ Democratic Party’s Mehbooba Mufti, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D. Raja, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren attended the meeting.

Kejriwal’s wife Sunita and former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana joined the Opposition leaders on stage, where the former read out a letter from the Delhi chief minister to the Enforcement Directorate. In that letter, Kejriwal called the allegations of corruption against him “politically motivated”.

ThePrint’s national photo editor Praveen Jain and Manisha Mondal were on the ground to cover the rally.

From left to right: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray greets Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar at ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Kalpana Soren, wife of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, touches National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s feet | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav greets Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav greets Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

From left to right: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav at the rally | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sunita Kejriwal speaks to Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi Marlena | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Sharad Pawar | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi speaks to party president Mallikarjun Kharge while Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury addresses the crowd | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Kalpana Soren, Sunita Kejriwal and Sonia Gandhi at the rally | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joins opposition leaders on the stage | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray walks back to his seat after his address | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sunita Kejriwal addresses the rally | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, and Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Leaders of the INDIA bloc at the rally | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Hoardings of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Ramlila Maidan | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Supporters wear Kejriwal masks at the rally | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

A supporter dressed as Hindu god Ram holds a placard supporting Kejriwal | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A supporter carries a copy of the Constitution of India at the rally | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint