The DMK leader leader thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the Opposition alliance's public relations officer.
Published Sep 01, 2023 | 8:58 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2023 | 10:12 PM
"BJP is not an invincible party. They have been made to bite the dust in many states including Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh," Stalin tells Mumbai meeting. (Supplied)
Stating that the country is witnessing political dictatorship, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said it was time to put an end to the BJP’s attempts to impose uniformity in everything.
The DMK chief was addressing the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)’s third conclave held in Mumbai on Friday, 1 September.
Incidentally, earlier in the day Union minister for Parliamentary affairs Pralhad Joshi said the Narendra Modi government had formed a committee under former president Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibilities of the BJP’s much-touted ‘One India, One Election’ plan.
Pointing out that the number of parties attending the meeting rose to 28 from 19 organisations that had participated in the bloc’s first conclave in Patna in June, Stalin said the alliance was gathering strength with each passing day. As many as 26 parties attended the Bengaluru meeting in July.
“Our prime minister has become the Public Relations Officer of the INDIA bloc by talking ill about us wherever he goes instead of his government’s achievements. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making INDIA popular. The Union government is devoid of any achievements to show despite ruling the country for over nine years,” the DMK leader said.
Referring to Modi’s silence over the ₹7.5 lakh crore irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Stalin said that the Union government was rapidly becoming unpopular while the INDIA bloc was gaining in popularity.
“Ours is not an alliance merely to win an election. It is an alliance to save the country and the future of its 1.4 billion citizens. This is not a self-serving alliance. This is an alliance formed to fulfil the aspirations of our people,” he said.
“The people of India have longed for Opposition unity. We have gathered here to honour and fulfil their expectations. Today’s meeting was not only satisfactory but also turned out to be a turning point. The support and expectations, too, are growing,” the Tamil Nadu chief minister said.
Accusing the Union government of spreading lies and falsehood, Stalin said the countdown had begun for the end of BJP rule.
“The nine-year BJP rule has shown scant regard to the democratic ethos of India. Now, it has become a threat to democracy and its very existence. The Modi government will be marked in history for destroying democratic institutions and traditions by toppling elected governments of the Opposition. Maharashtra is testament to BJP’s undermining of democracy,” he said.
Further, he charged that dividing the Opposition and toppling their governments by splurging ill-gotten money and unleashing central agencies have become the BJP’s full-time job.
“The very notion that there should be no political opponents is fascism. India is witnessing political dictatorship,” he further stated.
Alleging that the Modi government has scant regard for Parliament or courts, Stalin said that the Election Commission has become a puppet of the ruling party.
“The BJP has robbed the independence of all premier agencies such as the ED, CBI, and I-T and converted them into hit squads,” he said. He added that the “lapdog agencies” were intimidating the Opposition, according to the whims and fancies of their political masters.
“Our intention is not to unseat an individual named Narendra Modi. We have no hatred or grudge against any individual. If BJP comes to power again, the India we all have seen will cease to exist anymore. That is why we oppose them. Even though we belong to different parties, we have come together to save Mother India,” Stalin said.
He further said that the Opposition alliance leaders were not looking for political gains, “We have teamed up to protect India’s sovereignty, dignity, secularism, social justice, federalism and fraternity. We will succeed in our objectives with the support of the people. The BJP is not invincible. It has been forced to bite the dust in many states including Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
Despite the BJP government having a brutal majority, the poor and the needy did not get any benefit, Stalin alleged, adding that the standard of living had not improved.
“The future of Indian citizens is in peril in the face of the increasing atmosphere of hate. India’s stature has declined all over the world because of the hatred, communal violence and crony capitalism being spread by the BJP regime,” he said,
“This is the time to end the BJP’s attempts to impose uniformity in everything such as One Nation, One Tax, One Nation, One Language, One Nation, One Culture, One Nation, One Food, One Nation, One Education policy, One Nation, One Election, One Nation, One Party. The Opposition parties from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir have entered the political battlefield to save India,” he added.
