New Delhi: The Congress on March 31, 2024, made it categorically clear that mega rally being organized in New Delhi by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is for saving the Democracy and the Constitution of the country and not any particular person. The ‘LoktantraBachao’ (Save Democracy) massive rally held at Ramlila Maidan on March 31, 2024, is being seen as a show of strength and unity by the INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The mega rally, the leaders said, will sound the second bugle against the Modi government and will convey a strong message that their time is up and the people of the country want to get rid of them. All the 28 constituent parties of the INDIA bloc will be participating in the rally. Some of the senior leaders in attendance are Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party Chief Shri Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Shri Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Shri Uddhav Thackeray, RJD’s Shri Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Champai Soren, National Conference President Shri Farooq Abdullah, PDP Chief Mehbooba Smt. Mufti and Trinamool Congress’ Shri Derek O’Brien. Shri Arvind Kejriwal is currently in the Enforcement Directorate custody.

What other leaders spoke at the rally:

Champai Soren

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren said - The land in the name of which he was arrested today is not mentioned anywhere in any book. The work done for the upliftment of backward classes and communities by Hemant Soren in Jharkhand has made BJP anxious. Our ancestors also fought the same battle in Jharkhand. We are all ‘One’. We will not allow BJP’s ideology to flourish in Jharkhand or anywhere else in the country.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, Congress General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Gandhi said - I think they have got entangled in observing some rituals. I think they are completely engrossed in show off. That’s why I want to stand here today and remind them what that thousands-year-old saga was and what was its message. When Lord Rama fought for truth, he did not have power. When Lord Rama fought for truth, he did not have resources, he did not even have a chariot. Ravana had the chariot, Ravana had the resources, Ravana had the army, Ravana had the gold; he in fact lived in the ‘Lanka’ of gold. Lord Rama had hope, faith, love, charity, humility, patience and courage and Lord Rama had truth.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gave five demands of India Alliance, “First demand – Election Commission of India should ensure level playing field in Lok Sabha elections. Second demand - The Election Commission should forcefully stop the action taken by IT, ED and CBI against opposition political parties for the purpose of rigging the elections. Third demand- Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal should be released immediately. Fourth demand: The forcible action to financially strangle opposition parties during elections should be stopped immediately. Fifth demand – A SIT should be constituted under the supervision of the Supreme Court to investigate the allegations of vendetta, extortion and money laundering by the BJP using electoral bonds.

Sitaram Yechury

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of the India Alliance, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “A new energy has been born in India’s politics today which is present here. This energy will bring victory to India’s Constitution and Democracy and will defeat the forces of dictatorship.”

Bhagwant Maan

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of the India Alliance, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “The country’s democracy is in danger. This country is not the property of anyone’s ancestors. This country belongs to the 140-crore people living here. What does BJP think –put everyone behind bars and freeze this leader, will you win like this?

Akhilesh Yadav

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, SP President Akhilesh Yadav said, “This Ramlila Maidan is a historical ground and today when we have gathered here and stood together, an announcement is going to be made from this ground that the rulers sitting in Delhi will not last long. Today we have come to Delhi. I heard that people from Delhi have gone out of Delhi today. Those who are going out of Delhi today are going out forever. BJP is giving the slogan of crossing 400, if you were crossing 400 then why are you worried about the leader of Aam Aadmi Party? I come from Uttar Pradesh where the people gave a chance to BJP and welcomed them, but remember that those people of Uttar Pradesh who welcome warmly, also know how to bid farewell with great pomp and show. You sent elected people and Chief Ministers to jail. The democracy for which India was respected in the entire world, is being thrashed all over because of BJP. If you look at their 10-year tenure, this is the most fake party in the universe. They are not going to cross 400 but lose 400. If anyone has done the work of collecting maximum donations by threatening through misusing ED and CBI, it has been done by BJP.

Farooq Abdullah

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of the India Alliance, NC Chief Farooq Abdullah said, “Today our aim is only to save the Constitution. People are being instigated against one another. All those leaders who have been jailed today, will be able to come out only when you hold this mirror and when the time of election comes, you will have to cast your vote. You will press the button that will defeat this regime. We all have to strengthen the India Alliance with our coordinated efforts.

Tejashwi Yadav

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “We held the first rally in Patna, the second in Mumbai and the third is being held in Delhi. Wherever we are going in every corner of the country, people are supporting us there. We want you to support us in this fight against this work of dividing the country and against the Politics of hatred that is being done. Those who raise the slogan that this time we will cross 400, have a mouth to blabber anything, but one thing is certain that the public is the master. When BJP people are raising slogans, it seems that EVM setting has already been done. The undeclared emergency has been implemented in the country. The biggest enemy in the country is unemployment, inflation and poverty. Prime Minister Modi did not provide any job, instead, he privatized everything. We worked to provide 5 lakh jobs in Bihar in 17 months. Today the farmers are devastated, the youth are worried, but Prime Minister Modi does not have time to meet the farmers. If Modi ji meets, he will meet Priyanka Chopra, not farmers.

Uddhav Thackeray

Speaking at BJP’s press conference before the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “BJP does not understand the meaning of a ‘family’. Saying ‘my family’ doesn’t help, one has to take responsibility for the family. In your family, there is only the chair and you. Now he has no other subjects left. Ever since the issue of electoral bonds has come to light, his real face has come in front of the public. BJP means ‘corrupt Janata Party’.”

Sunita Kejriwal

Addressing the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said, “If you all give a chance to India Alliance, then together we will build such a great nation which would not just represent the name but it would be the real India in the heart.”

Kalpana Soren

Speaking at the rally, Kalpana Soren, said, “I am standing in front of you as the voice of 50 per cent of India’s women population and 9 per cent of the tribal community. Today, this gathering on this historic ground is testifying that you all have come from every part of the country to end the dictatorship.”

Mehbooba Mufti

PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti reached Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan to participate in the ‘Maha Rally’ of India Alliance.