The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
INDIA bloc leaders target BJP over misuse of central agencies
Kharge calls Hemant Soren’s arrest ‘murder of democracy and Constitution’; Modi guarantee is zero warranty when it comes to employment, inflation, says Trinamool MP Derek O’brien
THE LEADERS of the INDIA bloc parties during their show of strength rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan Sunday attacked the BJP over alleged misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders, citing the arrests of former J hark hand cm hem ants or en and Delhi cm arvindkejriw al, among other acts.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “What was the crime of Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Shrih em ants or en? the agencies could have done it later... done investigations first... why do it during elections?” He said Soren was arrested because he supported the INDIA bloc and did not succumb to “pressure”, terming his arrest a “murder of democracy and Constitution of India”.
“The Central government has already frozen our bank accounts; they have imposed a hefty penalty of Rs 3,567 crore on the Congress. How will we campaign for the elections ?” he said, citing the“lack of level-playing field”.kharg es aid people wanted to “get rid of Modi rule and his ideology, which sought to exclude rather than unite”.
Delhi minister Atishi said those in attendance were proof that the “entire country is angered” by the arrest of Kejriwal which was part of a “political conspiracy”. “All opposition parties... are being targeted by the BJP government ... people from across Delhi are here today... they are ‘aam log’ who are angry at Kejriwal’s arrest,” she said.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said Central probe agencies were being used to target opposition leaders. CPI-ML’S Dip ankarBh attach ar ya said the coming elections is a chance to save democracy. “BJP hatao, desh ba chao… icon de mn the arrest of the elected cm of Delhi,” said the CPI’S D Raja.
“The country is facing a big calamity... the BJP, the RSS are trying to replace our Constitution... can we allow this ?... removing the BJP should be the common resolve,” he added.
RJD’S Tejashwi Yadav said agencies like CBI, ED and IT were “cells of the BJP” which were let loose on opposition leaders. “The way Modiji came like an aandhi, he will be uprooted like a toofan... politics of hatred is being done... There is an undeclared emergency in the country,” he said.
TMC’S Derek O’brien questioned PM Modi’s ‘guarantees’, saying, “...Modi guarantee is zero warranty: zero warranty when it comes to employment, inflation, protecting the people’ s institutions .” His Rajya Sabha MP colleague,saga rik ag hose said ,“your popular elected cm was arrested ... this is tyranny... politics where power is centralised in one party or one person is finishing the ethos of the country... Remember this general election is of tyranny versus democracy.”
Farooq Abdullah of the NC said ,“in the name of religion, people are being pitted against each other. against this conspiracy, you need to raise your voice and vote (accordingly)... ” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “The democracy for which India was once respected in the world... today, the BJP has disgraced India... false cases are being filed against opposition leaders,” he added.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said 47 years ago, there was a historic gathering in this very field where the slogan of‘ az ad iyaghul ami '( freedom or slavery) was raised referring to Jayaprakash Na ray an .“after so many years, the same atmosphere prevails here today. It is our responsibility to keep the country's democracy safe,” he said. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said sending Kejriwal and Soren to jail was an attack on the country's democracy and Constitution. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddh av thackeray termed central probe agencies “BJP'S companions”. Delivering a message from TN CM MK Stalin, DMK leader Thiruchi N Shiva condemned the arrests of Kejriwal and Soren.