"Nation Asks For Sacrifice": Opposition's War Cry At 'Save Democracy' Rally

The opposition is expected to speak out strongly against what it calls the BJP's misuse of central agencies.

The Congress said 27-28 parties are involved in the rally

New Delhi: Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita will read out a message from him at a mega rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital today. Opposition INDIA bloc leaders including Rahul Gandhi attended.

Here Are The Top 10 Points In This Big Story:

  1. The 'Loktantra Bachao' (Save Democracy) rally is being held at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital after the arrest of Mr Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy case last week. The event is being seen as a show of strength and unity by the Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

  2. Taking a swipe at the Opposition event, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the event is actually about saving dynastic families in politics, news agency ANI reported. "It's not 'Loktantra Bachao' rally but in reality, it is 'Parivar Bachao, bhrashtachar chhupao' rally," Mr Trivedi said.

  3. "What wrong has Kejriwal done? He has improved Delhi's education, helped people. Had people not happy with him, he would not have been leading Delhi," former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said.

  4. "The entire country is with you. We are not afraid. The parties that support the BJP are ED, CBI and income tax department," Uddhav Thackeray said.

  5. The opposition spoke out strongly against what it called the BJP's misuse of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI, and the Income Tax Department.

  6. The issue has taken centre stage after the arrests of Mr Kejriwal and former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, and the tax notices issued to the Congress, including one for Rs 1,800 crore which was sent on Friday.

  7. Some of the leaders in attendance are Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, senior RJD leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, and the DMK's Tiruchi Siva.

  8. From the AAP, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann came to the rally with other senior leaders. Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal and Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren have said they will "take the fight forward together". 

  9. The Congress has said the rally will send a "strong message" to Lok Kalyan Marg, where the Prime Minister's residence is located, that the BJP-led government's "time is up". Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao rally. This is not one party's rally, about 27-28 parties are involved. All constituents of the INDIA 'janbandhan' will be taking part in the rally." 

  10. The BJP has maintained that Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and the tax notices to the Congress were the result of the agencies acting independently and following legal procedures. It has also hit out at the AAP for insisting on the Delhi chief minister running the government from jail.



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