Opposition rally Highlights: Gathbandhan sounds battle cry from Kolkata, vows to crush BJP
Kolkata, Jan 19: Massive show of strength rally by the opposition parties concluded on Saturday afternoon with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warning the PM Modi-led goverment at the Centre that their days were numbered. Who's who from the opposition ranks were on the dais with Mamata in Kolkata and in unison they criticised the BJP rule, accusing the saffron party of being 'anti-democracy'.
From former prime minister HD Deve Gowda to rebel BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, all on the dais stressed on how the current regime was interferring with the institutions and misusing the mandate given to them in 2014. Many leaders stressed that it was important to forget differences and stay united if they want to oust the BJP from the Centre.
Here are the highlights from the rally:
One former prime minister, three chief ministers, six former chief ministers and five former Union ministers will be attending the Mamata Banerjee-hosted United India Rally in Kolkata, said reports.
More than 20 national leaders, including former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie; three present chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Chandrababu Naidu and H D Kumaraswamy; and former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Akhilesh Yadav and Gegong Apang will attend the meeting.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have decided to skip the Kolkata event, but AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge will represent the Congress at the rally.