The “maha rally” being organised by the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at the capital’s Ramlila Maidan on March 31 is not aimed at protecting one person, the Congress said on March 30, emphasizing that the event was focused on saving the Constitution and democracy.
Posters sporting the slogan “Main bhi Kejiriwal (I am also Kejriwal)” can be seen at Ramlila Maidan, as part of a campaign being run by the Aam Aadmi Party since the arrest of its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
However, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the “strong message” being sent out from the rally to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence was that the BJP-led government’s “time is up”.
‘Final strike on democracy’
“It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao Rally (Save Democracy Rallly). This is not one party’s rally, about 27 to 28 parties are involved in it. All constituents of the INDIA bloc will be taking part in the rally,” Mr. Ramesh said. He added that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi would address the rally along with leaders from Opposition parties from across the country.
Asked about Mr. Ramesh’s comments, senior AAP leader Atishi said that Congress leaders had shown support to the AAP as soon as the Enforcement Directorate arrived to arrest Mr. Kejriwal, adding that other parties participating in the rally have also extended support to the AAP. “The BJP has been constantly attacking the Opposition parties in various ways, whether it is via central probe agencies or by poaching elected representatives via ‘Operation Lotus’. Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest was a final strike on democracy and the Constitution,” Ms. Atishi said at a press conference.
Opposition solidarity
Mr. Ramesh said that the rally would send out a message of solidarity among INDIA bloc members and would raise issues like the BJP-led government’s misuse of Central agencies, rising prices, the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, economic disparities, social polarisation, and injustice against farmers.
“Two Chief Ministers [Mr. Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren] and several Ministers have been arrested in a bid to target Opposition parties politically. This shows the mindset that the Prime Minister wants to cripple Opposition parties politically and financially. We are gathering to save democracy and prevent the BJP from going ahead with its plans to rewrite the Constitution,“ Mr. Ramesh said.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja, CPI (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Tiruchi Siva, and the Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien are among the leaders scheduled to participate in the rally.
‘Shocked and betrayed’
The BJP slammed this solidarity, claiming that the people of Delhi were shocked and felt betrayed to see that the AAP had stooped to such a level that it was seeking protection from the very people it had called corrupt when it initially came to power.
“The Ramlila Maidan will cry when it watches the AAP share the stage with the Congress and people like Mr. Pawar. It is these very people that the India Against Corruption movement, which gave birth to the AAP, cursed and came to power,” Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said. He added that the AAP had already received a slap on its face with Mr. Ramesh saying that the mega rally was not for supporting one individual but for the alliance’s common agenda.
