Mumbai: On the eve of the third National Opposition INDIA conclave opening here on Friday morning, various participating opposition leaders from the country on Thursday said they are converging to protect the Constitution and safeguard democracy in the country from authoritarianism.
Leaders of 28 parties from all over India have arrived here for the crucial deliberations to provide an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier on Thursday evening, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi set the aggressive tone for the INDIA meet at his packed media briefing, even as the government announced a Special Session of Parliament — to be convened in the third week of September.
The host, Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former CM Uddhav Thackeray was personally present, along with several other top party leaders, to receive, meet and greet all the visiting leaders for a dinner he has organised on Friday night at a suburban deluxe hotel.
“We want to preserve democracy. We are fighting for it. We are fighting for the Constitution. We want to keep our country together,” said Aditya Thackeray on the occasion at the Hotel Grand Hyatt in Santacruz.
Senior leader and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar said that people from all states are very much interested in the INDIA bloc meeting outcome.
He expressed confidence that “an alternative forum will be created in the country, which will become strong for the changes that have to be made in the country”, for which his party would also contribute.
“This meeting of INDIA has many meanings. It is the wish of the people that a better alternative should be placed before them. People are trying to answer those who want to end democracy and Constitution. If we are not united, people will not forgive,” said RJD leader and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
Former Jammu & Kashmir CM and JKNC leader Omar Abdullah said: “You have to hand it to the headline management team of the PMO/BJP. Suddenly, no one is talking about Adani or even the INDIA meeting. Everyone is chasing their tails speculating what the 5 day session of parliament is all about. It’s a full fledged kite flying festival out there.”
RJD president Lalu Prasad said that the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed to solve the issues of poverty, joblessness and farmers, and the INDIA meet will seek to evolve a common minimum programme, including putting up common candidates against the BJP in the country.
The father-son Yadav duo said that the INDIA alliance will offer a viable alternative to the country and the people will give a befitting reply to “those who are dividing the soceity”.
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha said that the BJP and PM Modi are “scared and unnerved by the INDIA alliance” and are making all efforts to discredit the Opposition in different ways.
NCP Working President and MP Supriya Sule said the INDIA bloc will encounter the challenges of setting right the damage done by the Modi regime that has resulted in various problems like inflation and unemployment all over.
“INDIA will overcome dictatorship! Whatever India is doing well and its hurting the (ruling side), means, INDIA is doing the right thing,” said Sule.
Several other prominent Opposition leaders, many of them sporting the traditional attires of their respective states, also made brief interactions with the media as they prepare for the brainstorming sessions on Friday morning 10.30 a.m. onwards.
(IANS)
