Oppn meet underway in Bengaluru Everything being crushed under Modi’s rule, say leaders

All eyes are on the leaders from 26 opposition parties that is underway at Bengaluru’s Taj West End Hotel.

Top opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, chief ministers of West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra along with party presidents and leaders of several parties are present at the meeting.

The two-day session was kicked off by an informal dinner meet hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last night. 

The Opposition is likely to announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, the opposition alliance is likely to be named INDIA (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance), according to reports.

Around 15 non-BJP parties had met in Patna on June 23 to formulate a coalition force to take on the saffron party in the 2024 general elections.

On the other hand, a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) It will take place in New Delhi on Tuesday. BJP president J P Nadda said on Monday that 38 parties had confirmed their participation in its meeting.

“Chak De! INDIA,” tweeted Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien during the meeting, fuelling rumours that the opposition alliance will be named INDIA (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance).

 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said in his inaugural address on the second day of the meet admitted to differences among opposition parties at the state level but noted that these are not ideological.

Several opposition leaders hit out at the BJP on Tuesday

• RJD leader Lalu Prasad: “Have to save the country and democracy and protect the poor, youths, farmers, minorities. Everything is being crushed under Narendra Modi’s rule.”
• TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee: “Its (the meeting’s) outcome will be good for the country,” she was seen saying in a video released by the Congress.
• AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal: “PM Modi made a complete mess of almost every sector in his 10-year rule. Time to get rid of him.”
• National Conference leader Omar Abdullah: “It is important that we put up a united stand against everything going wrong.”
• CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury: “The country is under tremendous multi-dimensional assault. The country has to be saved to make a change for the better.”
• Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashvi Yadav: “We have got together to save the democracy, Constitution and brotherhood…There is only talk of hatred while issues concerning the common man, farmers, and youths are being ignored.”
• KMDK General Secretary ER Eswaran: “We have to protect the nation and defend the rights of our fellow citizens…Undoubtedly, in 2024, our alliance should govern the country and restore the old era.”
• President of the Indian Union Muslim League KM Kader Mohideen: “The British divided and ruled India. Today, the BJP is dividing and ruining the country. This meeting has been convened to save the country from the BJP.”

Day 2 of the key opposition meeting is about to begin. Deliberations will aim at giving the grouping of 26 opposition parties a name, structure and common agenda to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.