A Complete Lowdown of Who Said What at Mamata’s Mega Oppn Rally

Here’s what the Opposition leaders said at Mamata’s mega rally in Kolkata on 19 January.

Arun Shourie, Shatrughan Sinha and Arvind Kejriwal (L to R).

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video editor: Sandeep Suman
Video producer: Anubhav Mishra

A score of Opposition leaders came together in Kolkata on Saturday, 19 January, to attend Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banjerjee’s ‘United India Rally’. The event was organised to showcase a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"The BJP government has crossed its expiry date,” said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in her impassioned appeal to the nation to unite against the Modi government.

Here’s a complete lowdown on what the other Opposition leaders said at the mega rally.

‘If Questions Go Unanswered, People Will Say Chowkidaar Chor Hai’: Shatrughan Sinha

Hitting out at the BJP, disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha said the implementation of demonetisation was not the party's decision as many members were not aware of it.

“If demonetisation was the party’s decision, LK Advani would have known, Murli Manohar Joshi would have known, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie would have known and I would have known.”

Shatrughan Sinha, BJP leader

The actor-turned-politician criticised implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said it only increased burden on people after demonetisation.

Speaking on the Rafale jets controvery, Sinha said, “I am not saying you are guilty, neither am I saying you’re innocent”

“If things are not answered, people will say ‘chowkidaar chor hai’,” Sinha added.  

‘Who’ll Be BJP’s PM Face After Modi’s Failure’: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the SP-BSP coalition has left the BJP worried.

“They ask, ‘who is the PM candidate for Opposition parties?’. We say, people will decide the PM candidate from our side. But from their side, this name [Narendra Modi] has disappointed the country, who is your other name?  

Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief

The SP chief said while the opposition parties have entered into an alliance with the common people, the BJP has forged ties with the CBI and the ED.

‘Bengal Ki Sherni’ Mamata Has Given Call to Oust BJP’: Arun Shourie

"We (the opposition parties and leaders) have to have a single aim, that is ousting the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections. Become Arjun (of Mahabaharata)," said former Union Minister Arun Shourie at the rally.

“The opposition parties should unitedly pitch single candidates against the BJP contestants in the country to win the Lok Sabha poll,” he added.

He congratulated Mamata Banerjee on the rally, saying “The Bengal tigress has given the call to oust BJP. I am sure it will be successful.”

‘We Are Fighting Against Thieves’: Hardik Patel

Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel said while Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had given a call to fight against the 'gore' (Britishers), "we are fighting against 'chors' (thieves)."

‘Mahagathbandhan Will Ensure BJP’s Defeat’: Jignesh Mevani

“The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) will ensure the defeat of the RSS and the BJP,” said Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani.

“The coming together of so many leaders of the Opposition at the TMC’s rally sends a message for change in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” Mevani added.

‘EVM is Chor Machine’: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah called EVM the “chor machine” and demanded that the ballot paper system be brought back for the sake of transparency.

“The EVM is a chor machine. Honestly speaking, it is so. Its use must be put to an end. Nowhere in the world is the machine used. The Opposition should approach the Election Commission and the President of India to stop the use of EVMs and bring back the old ballot papers for the sake of transparency.”  

Farooq Abdullah, NC leader

‘Need to Defeat Dangerous BJP Govt at Any Cost’: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the BJP government ‘dangerous’ and urged people to defeat the them at any cost.

“It was Pakistan’s dream to split this country into pieces. This BJP government is going in that direction by creating enmity among people and dividing the nation on the lines of religion and language.”

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM<i></i>

“If the Modi-Shah combination continues to rule the country by winning the 2019 elections, it will change the Constitution and further elections will never take place. A fascist regime will set in as was done by Hitler in Germany,” Kejriwal added.

‘Lok Sabha Polls Will Be Second Fight for Independence’: MK Stalin

DMK president MK Stalin said the upcoming general elections will be akin to a second freedom struggle for the people of India to fight against the "radical Hinduism" of the BJP. Stalin said PM Modi is "afraid" of a few people, including West Bengal CM.

“The next (Lok Sabha) elections will be the second fight for Independence. We will stop this poison of Hindutva and radical Hinduism from spreading. Our call is to defeat Modi and save the country.”

MK Stalin, DMK President

Criticising the central government, Stalin also accused it of working for corporate houses. "If Modi is back in power, the country will go back 50 years," he said.

‘Give Fitting Reply to Communal Forces’: Hemant Soren

JMM leader Hemant Soren called for "uprooting" the BJP from the country and asked the Opposition to give a "fitting" reply to the "communal forces" in the next Lok Sabha polls.

“We, the opposition parties, have to give a fitting reply to to the communal forces. We will have to uproot the BJP not only from the Centre, but also from the states.”

Hemant Soren, JMM leader

Soren added that the way the BJP is running the country will create “a violent and disturbing time for the country".

‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vinash’: Yashwant Sinha

Former Union minister and ex-BJP leader Yashwant Sinha criticised Modi government for being the first government after Independence that has been playing "mischief" with the developmental statistics.

“After Independence, this is the first government that has been presenting decorated and inflated developmental statistics to fool people.”

Yashwant Sinha, former Union minister

‘NE Burning Due to Citizenship Bill’: Lalduhawma

Zoram Nationalist Party leader Lalduhawma said the entire Northeast was “burning” because of the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Lalduhawma alleged that the BJP and the RSS are trying to rewrite the history in their own way.

“If the Bill is enacted ... India will no longer be the place that it used to be ... so we want a secular government at the Centre, so that this Bill is withdrawn, or exemption must be given to the Northeast.

Lalduhawma, Zoram Nationalist Party leader