New Delhi: A big public rally on a Sunday at the historic Gandhi maidan in Patna, hosted by the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), became bigger with the Mahagatbandhan ensuring the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader, Rahul Gandhi who interrupted his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Madhya Pradesh to make it to Patna.
Others in attendance included former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s general secretary D. Raja and CPI(ML)’s chief Dipankar Bhattacharya, who made it a big focal point to launch INDIA in the Hindi belt. Lalu Prasad Yadav too made his now rare-public address.
The master of ceremonies, RJD MP Manoj Jha, thanked the thousands in the audience, for “waiting since 5am”. The rally’s significance is two-fold; first, Nitish Kumar’s return to the BJP which changed the contours of the state government, once again bringing it under NDA’s fold.
Second, the Hindi belt is projected as INDIA’s Achilles heel at a time when Modi’s BJP is meant to be leading with a Ram temple Hindutva push. Articulation of assertive views from another point of view – foregrounding jobs, economic betterment, disenchantment with Modi’s promises and new slogans – make this INDIA’s first significant rally this year.
Tejashwi Yadav pulled no punches as he spoke of “chacha palat gaye” referring to Nitish Kumar’s switch. He spoke of his father, then-Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s “record of putting the Indian Railways into a profit mode”, taunting Modi for India’s dubious performance in the sector lashing out at its privatisation.
Tejashwi spoke of jobs as being paramount, which his party is keen to take credit for. The brief record of the Mahagatbandhan government versus 17 years of NDA. ‘Bhajpa bhagaao, Desh Bachaao’ was a theme. He spoke of R for Rights, J for Jobs and D for Development as the meaning of RJD.
His brother, Tej Pratap Singh, too made an impassioned speech for the Mahagatbandhan’s work in the few months that it held power in Patna.
Lalu Prasad Yadav drew an emotional response from the crowds as he held forth on Bihar before his times, on the deep caste inequities that prevailed from the village well to the roads. “We gave everyone izzat”. He invoked the Mandal commission and how backward castes captured power. He said it is thanks to the commission that all poor, backward castes and Dalits are standing at the doors of power.
“In 1990s, backward classes were kept away from representation… We gave them power. In this Gandhi maidan only we brought all backward classes and told them to address rallies and not just in Bihar but in all of country we applied Mandal Commission. As a result, those who call themselves big people can not show eyes to the poor. At that time there used to be wells. If anyone from upper caste used a well and a lower caste tried to use that well, then they were shooed away. The well was emptied and was only used when all the water was thrown away.”
Lalu said “I say here, at Gandhi maidan, with confidence that BJP will be ousted at the incoming polls.” He raised a slogan, “Dilli pe qabza karna hai”.
“Who is Narendra Modi?” He asked “why is he going on about parivarwaad, taunting those with families?” Modi, he said was only spreading animus, “Nafrat phailaa rahe ho? Ram Rahim ke bandon mein.”
In Bihar, said Lalu, “all manner of greats have been born, just here in Gandhi maidan, national leaders have held meetings. And it is from here that messages go to the rest of the country. This is what will happen tomorrow.”
“Mera kidney ka transplant hua, my daughter Rohini Acharya gave me her kidney,” he acknowledged. Mentioning his son’s tenure, he said, “I would ask every evening, how many jobs have you given? Get reservations among soldiers, so there would be better representations too.”
“I never abused Nitish Kumar, I just said he is paltu Ram (pet). Second time, I erred, Tejashwi erred too, as he came to us, but he went back to take refuge at Modi’s feet. Is he not ashamed to see all the memes we get on the phone?”
Gandhi was received with enthusiasm and underlined the cronyism of the Modi government as one favouring billionaires, writing off loans of big industrialists, while totally disregarding the backwards in the country, not giving them their share. “We are not afraid of BJP-RSS, we are ready to die for country and make an INDIA government,” he said.
Kharge addressed Modi and paltu chacha, with a rhyme, calling out their “lies”. He highlighted the importance of the struggle, to fight in the days ahead, and win the coming elections. “INDIA bloc people do what they say. Today INDIA is fighting Modi. Till the time you won’t remove Modi, the country will not prosper… If you would not remove Modi then democracy, constitution will not survive. I It is your duty to save our constitution.” He asserted that no one would be subdued by action of central agencies.
CPI(ML)’s Bhattacharya invoked famous lines of Hindi writer Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, when he said, “Singhasan khali karo, ki Janta aati hai” – vacate your throne, as the people are here. He pointed out to the celebrations of the pre-wedding of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s son being facilitated, versus thousands of farmers, despite several losing their lives, not being given a hearing.
‘Modi hatao desh bachao,’ said Yechury, as he spoke of false promises of Modi government, praising the Mahagatbandhan for jobs. He invoked the Puranic tale of amrit (elixir) in the course of the oceanic churn, passing into the hands of the “wrong persons”. The challenge he said was to get the amrit back and save India to ensure a better future for its people.
You can watch the rally here.