Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has organised a ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ rally today and quite a few opposition parties are expected to attend the rally.

Lalu had long back announced the rally and as the D-day was nearing the significance of the rally grew even more after the recent political turmoil in Bihar. Soon after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke the grand alliance with RJD-Congress and formed a new government in alliance with BJP, the state has been witnessing changes in the political equations almost every day. Nitish Kumar is known for his Mr. Clean image politician and him adamant to follow his principle of zero tolerance against corruption had resigned from JD(U) after Lalu’s kin and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav refused to resign from the post. Lalu Prasad along with his son Tejashwi was alleged with corruption charges following which BJP and JD(U) had demanded the resignation of Tejashwi Yadav which the latter denied. Following the refusal of Tejashwi, Nitish resigned from the party and was immediately offered support from BJP. The very next day of his resignation, Nitish again swore in as the CM of Bihar forming the new alliance with BJP and also officially became a partner with NDA a few days later.

This decision of Kumar all the more fueled the cold war going on between RJD and JD(U). One of the founding member and former party president Sharad Yadav also felt back stabbed with Kumar’s decision and rebelled against the party. He firm on keeping the grand alliance intact joined hands with RJD and said that JD(U) under his leadership will keep the alliance with RJD-Congress, this led to the formation of two factions in the party.

Meanwhile, the opposition is also gearing up ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due in 2019, to unanimously stand as one unit and give a tough fight to BJP. Congress high command Sonia Gandhi had initiated the process of uniting the opposition, which was successful to some extent when 17 parties united during the presidential polls and 19 during vice-presidential polls. This rally organised by Lalu is also being regarded as another platform to showcase the opposition unity. Though both the leaders Sonia and party vice president has side lined themselves from the rally, many other opposition parties including Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and leaders of the NCP, CPI, RLD, JMM, JVM, DMK, Kerala Congress, RSP, AIUDF, NC and JD(S) leaders would share the stage with RJD Chief Lalu Yadav. While Ghulam Nabi Azad would be representing Congress.

Sharad Yadav despite getting a warning of being expelled from the party and taking away his Rajya Sabha seat has decided to attend the rally. The rebel leader on Saturday had got a threating letter from Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Yadav that if he crosses the red line and attends the rally he will have to lose his Parliament Membership from Rajya Sabha and his move will be accepted as his voluntary decision to quit the party.

Keeping in mind the current flood hit situation in Bihar Lalu was also asked to postpone his rally, which the latter refused. He said he will conduct the rally at any cost. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also played a political move by visiting the state just a day ahead of the rally hoping to make Lalu’s rally a flop show. Though he claimed that his visit was not political but strictly o my to monitor the situation in the flood hit areas in the state.

Despite all the warning and possible threats to different leaders to ruin the ‘ BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ rally, lakhs of people have gathered at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna where the rally is being hosted.

According to the sources around 1.5 lakh, people have gathered to attend the rally. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav along with Ali Anwar, former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and CP Joshi, TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee along with both the kins of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav are present at the Gandhi Maidan.

During the rally, Shivanand Tiwari, RJD national vice president, questioned Nitish Kumar that why he ditched the mandate of Bihar and broke the grand alliance. While Tejashwi Yadav thanking the people to come to the rally said that he always regarded Nitish Kumar as his uncle and asked what feared him so much that he broke the alliance with RJD. He further alleged Bihar CM to be hunger of power. He also announced that he will go on Srijano ke Durjano ki Visarjan Yatra in districts to corner Nitish government on Srijan scam. He also added that “if someone thinks BJP can’t be defeated than come to Gandhi Maidan, 30 lacs people are waiting.”

Akhilesh Yadav while addressing the rally said that BJP is just a digital party and if they wish to see the strength of the opposition, they should watch the rally. He further added that the poor and the farmers are the most distressed in the country and urged everyone to work together to save India. He said, “we have to make India a country of farmers and youngsters.”

Congress representative Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Nitish has broken the trust of the people of Bihar and added that all the leaders of the national party will back Lalu and showcase opposition unity.

Rebel leader Sharad Yadav began addressing the rally by saying that the mahagathbandhan was formed on this very stage for five year and the alliance will continue no matter what. He said he has always been with the poor and the farmers and will stand with them and for them in the future also. He further added that this is a time of struggle and the fight will continue. He also informed that the grand alliance will be formed again and this time it will change the picture of Bihar in the coming five years.

TMC Chief speaking at the rally appreciated the people for attending the rally in such huge number and said last time she visited the state was for the people and not Nitish. She further added that the opposition has always been fighting for its rights and will continue till the goals are not achieved and those who are afraid to fight can go home. Mamata claimed that Lalu will definitely defeat BJP in the next polls. She told that she came to the rally for Lalu and added that India needs young leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. Criticising the BJP led NDA government she said that three years have passed with the promise of ‘achhe din’ but nothing seemed to be fulfilled by the government yet. She further added that in the past three years 12000 farmers have lost their lives. The TMC Chief told that India is a land of farmers and it will not be divided at any cost. Concluding her speech she quoted Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, wohi hota hai jo manjoor-e-khuda hota hai.

Following Mamata’s address Lalu Prasad Yadav began his speech saying that the world now needs to know the strength of Bihar and also thanked the people in showing their trust in him by coming to his rally in such huge number. Lalu taking a toll on Nitish said that all the members of JD(U) are his product and even the position that Nitish is on today is because of him. He further spoke that he was aware that Nitish is not a good man but still be made the alliance with a heavy heart. It is because of Sharad Yadav that Nitish could reach to the centre and become.e a member he added. Lalu further reminding his contribution to build JD(U) said that despite bad health he went across the state to make sure the victory of JD(U) leaders. The RJD Chief said trusting Nitish he allowed him to run the government but he broke the faith because he was jealous and afraid of Tejashwi.

Further attacking Nitish Lalu said that Bihar CM has decided the poor and no political party will ever believe Nitish now. He said that Nitish hates the Dalits supporting his statement he added 40000 poor people are languishing in different jails – mostly Pashi caste people – liquor is available in almost all households in the state. Defending his son Lalu said that Nitish never demanded Tejashwi’s resignation and added that Tejashwi had instead always worked for the development of Bihar. He said that Tejashwi had launched the  Arah-Chhapra and Digha bridge projects. Lalu claimed huge scams in water resource development ministry and said that the Srijan scam will also be revealed soon.

Lalu also attacked the NDA government for deliberately targeting him by lodging false cases against him and conducting CBI raids at his premises. Concluding his speech he swore that “We take a pledge to unseat those inciting riots and fanning communal passions” and also added that he does want to break the grand alliance and will back the JD(U) led by Sharad Yadav.