Bengaluru: The opposition alliance has finally got a name - I.N.D.I.A. with the opposition leaders agreeing on the acronym that stands for 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance' and announcing that the 26 opposition parties that came together in the Bengaluru meeting will jointly fight the BJP-led NDA in 2024 general elections.
While the two-day alliance meeting concluded Tuesday afternoon, some of the top opposition leaders of the country addressed the media after the meeting they said was "successful" in charting out the future course.
Addressing the media, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said an 11-member Coordination Committee will be formed and the same will be decided in the next meeting in Mumbai. "In Mumbai, we will discuss the names of the coordinators. Will announce the date shortly," he said. Kharge said that a secretariat will be set up for campaign management and committees for specific issues will also be formed.
The alliance, now named INDIA, will also issue a joint statement about the Bengaluru meeting and the way forward, Kharge said. "I am thankful to all the leaders. They gave good suggestions. The BJP government wants to destroy democracy in this country, they want to destroy the constitution. They are using autonomous bodies like CBI, ED, Vigilance and other such institutions against the opposition party leaders and workers. There is a grave situation. Though we have some differences in each state politically, we have kept those behind. What we kept in front of us is our will to save the country and the people of this country. We have to be together in the interest of the country," Kharge said.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, the Congress chief said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "rattled" as 26 opposition parties came together in the Bengaluru meeting. "That is why he is now calling NDA meeting with 30 parties. Don't know where these 30 parties have come from. Whether they are registered? I am in parliament. I have not heard of so many parties. Earlier they never cared, many left but now one by one, he is calling and meeting. His party president is going to each state. Bahut se tukde tukde hogaye thay...Un tukdun ko jodna ka kaam modi kar raha hai. Modi ji is afraid now."
Kharge said the leaders gathered in Bengaluru "don't want to become something". "They want to save the country and fight against unemployment, poverty, and other issues." The aim of the alliance, he said, will be to highlight important issues one by one and the leaders will move in the entire country to highlight the "failure" of the BJP government.
On choosing 'INDIA' name, Kharge said it was the alliance's first achievement that they all agreed on it. "Everyone including Rahul ji, Mamata ji agreed to it...This is the first achievement..." Slamming BJP for muzzling the press and making it work according to its "signals", Kharge said that in his 52 -year-long political career, he has not seen "such hostile information against opposition".
"We will fight and we will move together...Youth, farmers, MSME people -- everyone is fed up... Freedom of speech is being curtailed...People don't write...Even newspapers do not own the statements...they attribute them to so and so. This is the situation. We have to come out of this and in 2024, we will fight unitedly and come out with great success."
'Can you challenge INDIA?' Mamata dares BJP
In her address to the press, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opened the floodgates against the BJP-led government but not before she called Rahul Gandhi "our favourite leader" while thanking all those present on the occasion.
"The country is in danger. Selling and buying governments is the only this government does. We have formed this alliance called INDIA...BJP, can you challenge INDIA? ...We love our motherland...We are for youth, for farmers, for Dalits, for a good economy, and for the world. Our challenge will be all focused, all publicity, all program, it will be under the banner of INDIA...If anyone has a problem, catch us if you can...Save India from disaster...Save the people of India...BJP is selling the country. It is threatening everyone. But today we have politically enforced Section 420 against BJP. BJP will lose and our country will win," Mamata said.
Kejriwal says 26 opposition parties 'dream of a new India'
AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who joined the alliance only after Congress assured its support to the Delhi government in the Central ordinance row, said the Bengaluru meeting had been fruitful. "Nine years ago, PM Modi won with a huge majority. He had the opportunity to do something for the country. But instead, today, there is not even one sector which has not been impacted. You buy a second-class railway ticket and then travel on it. You will realise the worst state Indian Railways is in. This government has destroyed Railways, destroyed the economy, and sold the airports. Farmers, youth, labourers, homemakers, industrialists, everyone is upset.
Today these 26 parties are not together for themselves. We are together to save the country from the politics of hatred. And we are together with the dream of a new India where there are jobs, education, and development, and where people live and thrive in love. We don't want a country where its resources are handed over to only a few people."
'Hum hai na', Uddhav assures people
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thakre, also termed the meeting successful. On the name of the alliance, he said it was INDIA for him. "We are fighting for India. We have different ideologies but we have come together to save our family. Our country is our family. We will save it. Our fight is against dictatorship...The country's freedom is in jeopardy. I have complete faith that we will be successful. I want to assure the people of the country that we are there. Hum hai na. One party cannot be the entire country. We will safeguard our nation," he said.
Rahul says 'Fight between INDIA and Mr Modi'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his address, said while the opposition leaders were deliberating on the name of the alliance, they realised that it was not a fight between the party in power and the opposition but instead, it was a fight for the voice of the country. "It is a fight between India and BJP, a fight between India and Mr Narendra Modi," he said.
"The idea of India is being attacked today...it is being attacked by the BJP...the wealth of India is being snatched from millions of Indians and handed over to a few business people who are close to the PM and to the BJP...Unemployment is spreading and prices are rising...Our fight is about the two ideas of India...Our alliance will be called INDIA and you know what happens to anyone who has opposed or tried to fight the idea of India. I don't need to go into who is going to win this fight," he said.
Kharge replies to media queries
In the end, during a short question-answer session, Kharge was asked if there was any discussion about who would be the face of INDIA. "As I have said, we will set up an 11-member coordination committee...In the next meeting in Mumbai, we will decide who those 11 members will be, and who would be the convener. All this would be decided," he said.
Asked about UCC, Kharge said since no bill or its draft has come to the fore, how could the alliance discuss it? "They (Law Commission) are still calling objections. Where is the question of discussing it...We have discussed Manipur, unemployment, and other crucial issues," he said.
On seat sharing and how the parties would sort out the differences as most of them are fighting each other in their respective states, the Congress chief said: As I said, the 11-member committee will discuss and decide it...Seat sharing as well...It is not a big deal."
Those who attended the Bengaluru meet included Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, NC patron Farooq Abdullah, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, Omar Abdullah, D Raja, Vaiko, Uddav Thackeray, and Mehbooba Mufti.
Also read: "Congress isn't interested in PM post or power:" Kharge clears stand at Bengaluru Opposition meet
Discussion on six points: Six important points were discussed in the meeting. A discussion was held on the formation of a sub-committee to formulate common minimum programmes. It will be a bridge between opposition alliances for the next Lok Sabha elections and will work to communicate with each other about alliance developments.
A discussion was held on the formation of a sub-committee for planning joint programs of the alliance. This committee will manage the responsibility of organizing large rallies across the country, where to hold the convention, how to organize public agitation against the central government, and all such programs.
A serious discussion was held about the seat allocation between the opposition alliances. Leaders proposed that whichever party is stronger in a given state should get more recognition. On this occasion, the leaders also explained the political situation in their respective states. EVM issues were also discussed at length. The opposition alliance will offer some suggestions in this regard to the Election Commission.
Also read: Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah stress on unity against all wrongs in India
