Sonia Gandhi: Kolkata rally an important attempt to fight against divisive Modi govt

Stating that the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls are not going to be an ordinary one, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that opposition parties’ rally in Kolkata, called by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, was an important attempt to galvanise leaders across the political spectrum to fight against the “divisive” government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This rally marks an important attempt to galvanise leaders across the political spectrum to fight the arrogant and divisive Modi government,” said Sonia Gandhi in a statement released on Saturday.

“This (upcoming Lok Sabha elections) will be an election to restore the nation's faith in democracy, defend our secular ethos and our heritage, and defeat forces that are trying to sabotage the Constitution of India,” said Sonia Gandhi.

Referring to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sonia also said, “The institutions have been undermined politically and socially, the pluralistic fabric stands vitiated. The upcoming Lok Sabha elections will not be an ordinary one.”

Pointing out towards increasing joblessness and the deepening agrarian crisis, Sonia Gandhi said that citizens have been squeezed economically under Modi’s rule.

“An envelope of crisis looms from our farmers to our borders. The youth are jobless. Rice and jute farmers are in distress. Fishermen are in deep loss. The country at large is under immense strain,” she added.

The TMC’s rally in Kolkata on Saturday was attended by 23 political parties across the country, sending out a show of strength of opposition parties to the BJP-led government at Centre.

Stalwarts of Indian politics such as former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, among others, attended the rally.

The public meeting was also attended by rebel BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who took to the stage to criticise the decisions made by his party and the government during PM Modi’s tenure.