Elect an educated PM now, says Kejriwal
Mamata claims situation is more dangerous than emergency
For the third time in less than a month, Opposition leaders came together in a public show of unity at a rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, be ousted from power in the elections as they posed a “threat” to democracy and constitutional values.
AAP president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said people should not repeat the mistake of making a “Class 12 pass out” as the Prime Minister, and should back an “educated” leader. His West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee said the situation was “more dangerous” than the Emergency.
Besides Mr Kejriwal and Ms Banerjee, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), NCP's Sharad Pawar, DMK's Kanimozhi, ex-Arunachal chief minister Gegong Apang, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja and Samajawadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav spoke at the rally at Jantar Mantar.
Ms Banerjee asked Opposition parties to fight in unison at the national level to oust the BJP-led NDA from power.
“Any fight with the Congress will remain in the state (West Bengal). At the national level, we will fight together, this I am saying from the heart... For the greater interest of the country, I am ready to sacrifice my life, my party. I am ready to sacrifice everything,” she said, adding democracy in the country has become ‘Namocracy’.
She appealed to all the Opposition parties to play to their strengths and not cut into each others' votes. She also asked them to ensure they get all the seats in the states they are strong in.
“I went to a Gandhi statue and and thought that Modi has to be removed”, the West Bengal CM said, “People who have blood on their hands are ruling the country.”