Opposition rally Highlights: Gathbandhan sounds battle cry from Kolkata, vows to crush BJP

| Updated: Saturday, January 19, 2019, 16:23 [IST]

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:

Newest First Oldest First

4:02 PM, 19 Jan

Rally ends with National Anthem.

3:48 PM, 19 Jan

Mamata warns BJP and says this is the beginning of BJP's end.

3:46 PM, 19 Jan

"BJP Hataao, BJP hataao" chants Mamata. Badal do, badal do, she further chants.

3:45 PM, 19 Jan

There will be no achche din for BJP. I am not concerned about who becomes the PM, I just want BJP to go," says Mamata.

3:41 PM, 19 Jan

"This meeting has been forced by historical necessity. You ask who's the leader of the Opposition. There are so many people on the stage. Can't you see? We have many leaders unlike your party," says Mamata.

3:32 PM, 19 Jan

collective leadership is the need of the hour. We are all leaders, we are all equal, we have united because country needs us, says Mamata.

3:30 PM, 19 Jan

He claims he is clean but look at all the scams his govt is involved in. Things change, even weather changes, then why shouldn't the government change," says Mamata.

3:29 PM, 19 Jan

Look at the way they are targetting the opposition leaders. Look what they did to Lalu ji. They are misusing CBI. They are ruining institutions... They are interferring in the work of state governments, says Mamata.

3:27 PM, 19 Jan

This government's days are numbered...They have crossed Lakshman Rekha, says Banerjee.

3:26 PM, 19 Jan

"Modi's expiry date is over just like your pills. We are now here to build a new India," says Mamata Banerjee

3:23 PM, 19 Jan

Mamata Banerjee begins address.

3:21 PM, 19 Jan

I want to tell people of Bihar, they have been cheated .. Help us in defeating Modi ji. Let us support Mamata ji, says Tejashwi Yadav.

3:19 PM, 19 Jan

Modi ji is a factory of lies. He keeps lying. His politics is adultrated, says Tejashwi. He says we must be united and be cautious.

3:17 PM, 19 Jan

My father was sent to jail. It was a conspiracy. Who ever opposes them, they send ED and CBI after them, says Yadav.

3:15 PM, 19 Jan

Modi ji will lose his sleep. Modi bhagawo, desh baccahao, says Yadav.

3:14 PM, 19 Jan

Tejashwi Yadav begins address.

3:14 PM, 19 Jan

"HAL was not given the contract to build aircraft. Please come clean with facts on Rafael otherwise u have to listen: Chowkidar Chor Hai, Chowkidar Chor Hai, Chowkidar Chor Hai," says Shatrughan.

3:13 PM, 19 Jan

We shall make it, hum honge kaamyaab, says Sinha.

3:12 PM, 19 Jan

Sharughan Sinha heaps praise on Tejashwi Yadav.

3:10 PM, 19 Jan

They will try to distract us. They will try to divert attention, they will rake up Ayodhya, they will make all sorts of promises, says Shatrughan Sinha.

3:09 PM, 19 Jan

The government must answer increased price of Rafale, says Sinha.

3:08 PM, 19 Jan

"Demonetisation was announced in haste. They announced without considering the people and other senior party leaders. Even the finance minister was not kept in the loop before announcing demonetisation. Women, who had accumulated some wealth for their families' benefit, were left in lurch when note ban happened. They lost crores due to it," says Shatrughan Sinha.

3:07 PM, 19 Jan

Farmers and youth suffering under current rule, says Shatrughan Sinha. He slams government over Rafale deal. He says government insulted HAL.

3:05 PM, 19 Jan

Demonetisation and GST were a double blow on people...Why are you hiding details of Rafale deal, Sinha says.

3:04 PM, 19 Jan

"Even before being a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, I am leader of Bharat. So whatever I say or do, is for the people and for their benefit. I am answerable to them. Hence, I try to show BJP a mirror so that they understand that it's a democracy and they cannot do such injustice. Yashwant Sinha tells me that BJP will now throw me out of the party. But I am not scared but I am a people's man," Shatrughan Sinha says.

2:59 PM, 19 Jan

Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee there was democracy, now there is dictatorship, says Shatrughan Sinha.

2:58 PM, 19 Jan

People ask me that you are in BJP then why are you rebellling. I am with truth. I am not afraid of speaking the truth, says Shatrughan Sinha. He says Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie told him that I would be expelled from the party after this, so be it.

2:54 PM, 19 Jan

Shatrughan Sinha calls Mamata Banerjee revolutionary leader.

2:53 PM, 19 Jan

Shatrughan Sinha begins address.

2:52 PM, 19 Jan

"I request senior regional leaders to prepare a manifesto together to take it forward. This task needs to be executed by the leaders themselves. I was the PM for a short time. I know that stable nation is important to build the a country. They got full majority, but what they have done is in front of everyone. We need to instill confidence among the people by telling them about our action plan," Deve Gowda says in Kolkata.

9:29 AM, 19 Jan

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the mega opposition rally being hosted by her Trinamool Congress here on January 19 would sound the "death knell" for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls and regional parties would be the deciding factor.

9:31 AM, 19 Jan

Large scale preparations have been made to ensure that it is a complete success. Besides the huge podiums, 20 watch towers have been erected and 1,000 microphones and 30 LED screens put up so that the spectators can see and hear the speeches of the leaders clearly.

9:35 AM, 19 Jan

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged on Friday that the Modi government had failed on all fronts and had been misusing all the constitutional institutions of the country.

9:36 AM, 19 Jan

Ahead of Mamata Banerjee's mega opposition rally in Kolkata tomorrow (January 19), Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday wrote to the West Bengal Chief Minister extending is support and said opposition unity is needed to uphold democracy, social justice and secularism.

9:38 AM, 19 Jan

#WestBengal: Crowds begin to gather for TMC led 'United India' rally in #Kolkata, today. pic.twitter.com/hGtObQM6VG
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2019

Crowds begin to gather for TMC led 'United India' rally in Kolkata.

9:40 AM, 19 Jan

The leaders who have confirmed their participation are: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, RLD Chief Ajit Singh, National Conference's (NC) Farooq Abdullah, DMK President MK Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel.

10:00 AM, 19 Jan

The mega rally, convened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for showcasing a united stand against the centre's ruling BJP in the coming general elections, is being billed as the biggest in the venue both in terms of the prospective huge crowd and large gathering of parties and leaders from across the country.

10:24 AM, 19 Jan

"Mamata Banerjee has called everyone to defeat combo of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. I support this..Mamata didi has called all non BJP parties here as the Amit Shah-Narendra Modi duo is very dangerous and the country needs to be saved from them," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reportedly said.

11:00 AM, 19 Jan

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi,said that the opposition leaders are joining hands to save their political career. "Tired of their defeats in the political battle, these leaders are now trying their luck by forming an alliance," he said.

11:01 AM, 19 Jan

Mamata Banerjee arrives at Brigade Parade ground, Kolkata.

11:02 AM, 19 Jan

Crowd up on their feet, loud chants can be heard across Brigade Parade ground as Mamata arrives.

11:53 AM, 19 Jan

DMK president M K Stalin and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav along with SP national vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda have arrived here at Brigade Ground. Mamata Banerjee is now introducing the regional leaders to the gathering.

11:57 AM, 19 Jan

West Bengal: Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and DMK Chief MK Stalin received by CM Mamata Banerjee at 'United India' opposition rally, in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/1FZbrIm3zK
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2019

Mamata Banerjee welcomes leaders.

11:58 AM, 19 Jan

"There is an atmosphere of fear in the country. BJP rule is dangerous for the country," says former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren.

11:59 AM, 19 Jan

"We are here to oppose communal forces," says Soren. Soren says everyone is suffering under BJP rule.

12:03 PM, 19 Jan

Gegong Apang begins address.

12:06 PM, 19 Jan

"We are here to save democracy. We are here to save democratic principles...Last four years have been testing times for Indian democracy. Democracy has been going through a worst phase," Apang says.

12:09 PM, 19 Jan

"I congratulate Mamata Ji for organising this historic rally. I urge everyone to save democracy," says Apang.

12:14 PM, 19 Jan

Shatrughan Sinha arrives.

12:18 PM, 19 Jan

Hardik Patel earlier today said that Subhash Chandra Bose fought against the 'goro' (Britishers) "we are fighting against 'choro' (thieves)."

12:26 PM, 19 Jan

"I am greatful to Mamata ji for inviting me," says Yashwant Sinha.

12:27 PM, 19 Jan

"I know what the BJP will say about this gathering. They will say that we have united to overthrow one man. Its not about one person, its about the ideology," says Yashwant Sinha, a BJP rebel.

12:29 PM, 19 Jan

"They have left no stone unturned to destroy institutions. They are a threat to democracy...This is the first government which is tinkering with numbers," says Yashwant Sinha.

12:33 PM, 19 Jan

"What this government is doing is unprecedented in history. Anyone who opposes them is called anti-national," says BJP-rebel Yashwant Sinha.

12:36 PM, 19 Jan

"No government has lied so much to the nation. There has been no government so far in history which has interfered in functioning of the institutions so much," says Arun Shourie. Shourie says the government must be ousted, there is no doubt in that.

12:37 PM, 19 Jan

"What is happening in Karnataka will happen in Madhya Pradesh. We have to be aware, cautious," says Shourie. Shourie says all must unite and keep differences aside.

12:39 PM, 19 Jan

"People have stopped trusting Modi-Shah. No you all have to show people that all parties will stay together," says Arun Shourie.

12:40 PM, 19 Jan

"While uniting, we will fight the elections. They said 'Sabka saath, Sabka vikaas.' They took 'sabka saath,' but did 'sabka vinaash'," said Yashwant Sinha earlier.

12:47 PM, 19 Jan

"The party that gains the most from division of votes is the BJP. We must stop division of votes," says Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

12:48 PM, 19 Jan

"PM Modi makes fun of Gathbandhan. But the most unethical alliance was in Kashmir. They preach us, " says Singhvi. He thanks Mamata Banerjee for bringing all parties together.

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.