Mumbai: The inaugural rally of the INDIA bloc at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park was a clarion call to protect the Constitution, address concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and investigate alleged graft linked to electoral bonds and central agency probes. The event also marked the culmination of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The gathering served as a launchpad for the INDIA bloc’s Lok Sabha election campaign, drawing key opposition figures, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) president Sharad Pawar, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, among others.
In a potent display, vast crowds assembled at Shivaji Park for the rally Sunday. With general elections set to begin on 19 April, the Opposition lambasted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over issues concerning EVMs, while deliberately avoiding any mention of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who decided to give the event a slip.
Amid speculation about the alliance’s unity and acceptance of Congress’ leadership, opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Stalin, and others endorsed Rahul Gandhi — commending his initiative of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The allies spoke in one voice about those who abandoned the alliance, like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and asked everyone to let bygones be bygones and move forward.
“We are not fighting against one party or one man but against the misuse of power. I had to do this yatra because there was a lack of communication in the country. But I was not the only one doing this yatra. This was the yatra of the Opposition where everyone from Uddhav Thackeray to Tejashwi Yadav, all participated,” said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
During the day, Rahul paid homage at Mani Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi’s Mumbai residence, and other memorials, including the Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park. He wrapped up his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Saturday with a visit to Chaitya Bhoomi, the cremation site of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, notably bypassing the Savarkar memorial opposite the Shivaji Park.
The day also saw Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attacking the Opposition.
Speaking to the media, Shinde said, “Today is a black day for Shiv Sena people because, from Shivaji Park, Balasaheb Thackeray guided the whole country. In the same park, this rally is happening and those who spoke against Veer Savarkar and made allegations against him are attending this, it is unfortunate…in the upcoming elections, people will teach them a lesson.”
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‘Monopoly over corruption’
Addressing a huge audience, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “cannot win the elections without EVM”.
Gandhi said that Modi has a “monopoly over corruption; he is a mask who works for power; he is a shallow man, not someone with a 56-inch chest.”
Taking a cue from Gandhi, National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah criticised EVMs, urging voters to verify VVPAT slips post voting. “This is our India… You have to protect your votes because the machine (EVM) is a thief. When you cast your vote, check the paper and verify your vote… When the INDIA bloc will form the government, this machine will end. Secondly, the Election Commission will become independent…,” he said.
AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj added: “We have to counter the EVM game this time by ensuring that more and more people come out and vote.”
The Opposition also slammed the central government over the electoral bonds scheme, which was struck down by the Supreme Court as “unconstitutional”.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin called the BJP “corrupt” and the electoral bonds scheme “white collar corruption”.
“There is no bigger threat than BJP,” said the DMK chief.
Taking a jibe at Modi’s campaign slogan ‘Modi ki guarantee,’ former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said, “Modi ji talks about guarantee. I want to tell him that forget about other guarantees, first give me the guarantee of my chacha (Nitish Kumar).”
Joining Yadav, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Modi’s guarantee is for the rich, but “our guarantee is for the common man” — underlining the promises the party made in Karnataka and Telangana.
Meanwhile, leaders collectively thanked Rahul Gandhi for initiating the yatra.
“The BJP is scared of you because of the name Gandhi. Today leaders from different ideologies have come together. But this is the beauty of India. We have come together to safeguard the Constitution,” said former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Yadav too thanked Rahul for taking out the yatra at a time when Modi “is dividing the country, spreading fake propaganda, and toppling governments”.
Calling for the removal of the BJP government, Pawar said, “In Mumbai in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the Quit India call, but now I want to tell you from Mumbai, here we have to give a call that people should Quit BJP.” While Thackeray gave the slogan, “BJP is like a balloon; and unfortunately we only filled air in that balloon. But Ab ki baar BJP Tadipar.”
Meanwhile, the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena criticised Thackeray for deviating from his father’s principles by aligning with the Congress.
On Sunday, the party released an old video of Bal Thackeray on social media platform ‘X’ in which he can be heard saying that he will never ally with the Congress. “I will not let my Shiv Sena become Congress. Rather I would shut my shop down,” he is heard saying.
शिवतीर्थ हे महाराष्ट्रासाठी तीर्थक्षेत्र आहे. शिवतीर्थ म्हणजे वंदनीय बाळासाहेब ठाकरे असे समीकरण, यापूर्वी याच शिवतीर्थावरून स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकरांच्या जबरदस्त वाणीतून राष्ट्रप्रेमाचा, हिंदुत्वाचा आणि देशभक्तीचा पहिला हुंकार उठला होता.
याच शिवतीर्थावरून हिंदुहृदय सम्राट वंदनीय… pic.twitter.com/2Ye71yOJTF
— Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Modi Ka Parivar) (@cbawankule) March 17, 2024
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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