Opposition unites at INDIA bloc rally over Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest to take on BJP in polls

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Over a dozen opposition leaders came together at New Delhi's historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday (March 31) over the arrest ofDelhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party co-founder Arvind Kejriwal's by Enforcement Directorate in the liquor policy scam case. The leaders of Aam Aadmi Party managed to keep the mega rally's focus on Arvind Kejriwal amid the rallying calls by all opposition leaders to 'save the constitution and constitutional values'.

Over a decade ago, it was at Ramlila Maidan where Arvind Kejriwal took oath as Delhi Chief Minister after organising massive protests against corruption at the same grounds. AsKejriwal himself is in jail now, on corruption charges, hisAam Aadmi Party deployed his wife Sunita Kejriwal for political messaging at the INDI Alliance rally on Sunday.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Quoting Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal said, "I am not asking for votes today... I invite 140 crore Indians to make a new India... India is a great nation with thousands of years old civilisation... I think about Mother India from inside the jail and she is in pain... Let's make a new India... If INDIA Alliance is given an opportunity, we will build a new India... I present 6 guarantees on behalf of INDIA Alliance. First, there will be no power cuts in the whole country. Second, electricity would be free for the poor people. Third, we will make government schools in every village. Fourth, we will make Mohalla Clinics in every village. We will make a multi-speciality government hospital in every district. Everyone would get free treatment. Fifth, farmers would be given the correct price for the crops. Sixth, the people of Delhi have faced injustice for 75 years... We will give statehood to Delhi... We will complete these 6 guarantees in 5 years. I have made all the planning from where the money for these guarantees will come..."

Sunita was seen sharing a moment of bonhomie with senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi as she reached the stageat Ramlila Maidan about two hours after the event began.

But the contradictions within the Opposition — which has banded as Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to purportedlyde-seat Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power— were visible in the Indian capital at the cusp of election summer.

"It is time that one party and one person's government have to go," Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said, a sentiment repeated by his alliance colleagues such as former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah.

Also watch |Indian elections 2024 | PM Modi's rally in Meerut, I.N.D.I.A bloc rally in Delhi

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee was conspicuously absent from the rally, and the West Bengal chief minister's party was represented by Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose. Given the photographic symbolism of the event, O'Brien chose to move away from CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri, the arch rival of TMC, besides whom he was initially seated.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the BJP won't be able to win more than 180 seats if it chooses to give up what he described as 'high-handedness through ED, CBI, and Income Tax departments' against the Opposition leaders.

Rahul Gandhi's sister and Congress General-Secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra called for the release of arrested leaders of 'INDIA' bloc including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren.

(With inputs from agencies)