BengalFreshly Brewed

Now Achchey Din will not come for BJP, they missed the opportunity – Mamata

Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, Mamata Banerjee not only hosted leaders of 23 political parties including some chief ministers, but also exhibited her strength before an ocean of people assembled at the Brigade ground to listen to leaders from different political parties. Mamata moderated the rally too, like a good hostess.

Kolkata Brigade Chalo United India Opposition Mamata Banerjee
An ocean of humans at the Brigade ground

During the meeting she declared that the time is up for Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the center.

“Now Achchey Din will never come for BJP, they (BJP) lost a good opportunity. In fact, after 2019, their bad days will arrive. BJP has ruined economy of the country. They have finished the banking system. They have given a bad name to ED (Enforcement Directorate), RBI (Reserve Bank of India). The officers are not bad but what they will do,” said Mamata.

She also presented acronyms for Hindu, Muslims, Sikh and Christians on the occasion. “Hindus are known for sacrifice (Tyag), Muslims for Faith (Imaan), Christian for love (Pyar) and Sikh for Martydom (Balidaan),” she said.

Kolkata Brigade Chalo United India Opposition Mamata Banerjee
One of the hoardings flashed during the rally

However, the most interesting thing that she highlighted in her speech apart from Indian politics was that how Prime Minister Narendra Modi disliked many BJP leaders. Now it is an open secret as to how several senior BJP leaders, including the likes of Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie are now not in the good books of Modi. Mamata made a point to mention the same. She mentioned, “He does not respect Rajnath (Singh) ji, Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari. He neither respects the BJP.”

There have been media reports about these three leaders having issues with Modi, but no senior BJP or opposition leader had mentioned the same publicly.

While every leader who participated in United India rally was critical of Narendra Modi and BJP, but the sharpest attack came from BJP leader and Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, reiterated the phrase, Chowkidar Hi Chor Hai, not once but thrice. “Narendra Modi works like a dictator. He took the decision of Notebandi (demonetization) unilaterally which ruined Indian economy and implemented GST (Goods and Services Tax) which he used to oppose when he was chief minister,” he said.

“For Rafale, I have three questions—1, Why number of Rafale aircrafts reduced to 26 from 136 when it was matter of national security. 2, Why price of each aircraft reached to 1600 crores from 510 crores? 3- Why HAL, which made Sukhoi kind of aircraft not chooses as partner but a company which did not even build a bicycle. And if you will not answer this, you (Modi) will be called as Chowkidar Hi Chor Hai,” said the actor-turned-politician.

The Bihari Babu before starting his speech also mentioned that Yashwant Sinha was saying to him, that he for sure would be sacked from BJP now.

Just before Shatrughan Sinha, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal warned people about the pair of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. He said, “What in 70 years Pakistan could not do against India, the duo – Shah and Modi has done for India. They made Hindu to fight Muslims and Muslims to Christians. Modi came into power speaking lie. Youth were promised 2 crores job every year instead more than one crore youth lost jobs, post demonitisation. If they will return to power, they will finish everything.It gives me a shiver when I think about Shah-Modi returning to power. So do everything to stop Shah-Modi.”

He further added, “I feel ashamed when I see that men who harass and bully Indian women followed by out Prime Minister, on twitter.”

Along with Kejriwal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers HD Kumaraswamy and N Chandrababu Naidu respectively were also present and addressed the public.

“BJP government is a threat to federal structure. They interfered in Kashmir too,” said Naidu. He then warned the center that they should not try to destabilize Karnataka government.

Naidu also said that Modi is a publicity prime minister. What India needs is a performing prime minister.

National Conference leader Farooque Abdullah accused the BJP of being responsible for the killings in Kashmir. His son Omar Abdullah was also present, but did not speak.

Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha stressed in the rally that for them Modi is not an issue, the issues are issue and it should be for everyone who are present there.

Rastriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav copied the famous slogan of Bengal—Karbo, Ladbo, Jitbo Rey to bugle the fight against NDA.

While former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren, stressed upon the need to root out BJP from both center and states.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, leaders from Gujarat Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani and RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary too spoke and attacked Narendra Modi and BJP for the downfall of Indian economy and rise of communal forces.

The leaders from North-East were also present. They warned Modi government over the amendments being made in the Citizen Bill. They maintained that if the bill gets implemented then India would lose North-East.

As the rally got louder and critical about Modi and BJP, Prime Minister Modi while addressing another gathering claimed that he continuously works and cares for India. He accused the opposition having a single agenda against Modi.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy also conducted a press conference to counter the allegations levied by the leaders of the united opposition made during the Brigade Chalo Rally, which Mamata declared to be historical. She said, “Brigade had hosted historical gatherings. This gathering too is historical and a much needed one for India. We promise to reassemble together here again after defeating the BJP in the general election.”

Shahnawaz Akhtar

is Founder of eNewsroom. He brings over two decades of journalism experience, having worked with The Telegraph, IANS, DNA, and China Daily. His bylines have also appeared in Al Jazeera, Scroll, BOOM Live, and Rediff, among others. The Managing Editor of eNewsroom has distinct profiles of working from four Indian states- Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bengal, as well as from China. He loves doing human interest, political and environment related stories.

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