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A United Pledge to Defend India’s Constitution, Democracy and Rights of People
ON March 14, 2024 farmers, workers and agricultural workers from various organisations and states rallied at the Mazdoor-Kisan Mahapanchayat at Delhi's Ramlila Ground. The aim of this 'Mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, was to pass a resolution to 'heighten the struggle' against the anti-farmer policies of the Modi government. The Mahapanchayat declared that they would observe March 23, 2024, the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev as a day to ‘Expose BJP and Save Democracy’. On this same day, SBI released the Electoral Bonds (EB) list exposing the donors and recipients of the scheme to the Indian public.
Not a week had passed since this Mahapanchayat, that the ruling BJP party, which was the key orchestrator and a major beneficiary of the now revoked electoral bond scheme, was caught red-handed in legalising corruption and engaging in quid pro quo deals with corporates. BJP dealt with this scandal by resorting to the only two tactics they know – one, by publicly lying about how much money they received and two, by suppressing the voices that were demanding accountability for their corruption. On April 21, 2024, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED and soon after the bank accounts of the largest opposition party, Congress were frozen by the Income Tax department. Income tax notices were also sent to two Left parties – the CPI and CPI(M). Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand had similarly been targeted by investigative agencies and taken into custody on January 31, 2024.
In response to this growing attack on opposition voices and the breakdown of democratic processes and constitutional values in the country, the INDIA opposition bloc gave a call for a ‘Loktantra Bachao Maha Rally’ on March 31, 2024 at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, with the message that the citizens of India need to unite to “Save Democracy” in the country. On that day, cadres of different parties, progressive and democratic organisations and ordinary citizens from Delhi and other states thronged Delhi’s Ramlila Grounds and rallied together to call for the release of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand’s ex-CM Hemant Soren, and raised their voices against the freezing of bank accounts and the misuse of central agencies by the Narendra Modi government against opposition leaders amid the Lok Sabha elections.
Almost all opposition leaders from the INDIA Alliance attended the rally and appealed to the people to vote in ‘full force” to defeat the ‘divisive’ BJP government, which has miserably failed to improve the lives of farmers, workers, youth, women and marginalised sections.
Former Bihar deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, in his speech, lambasted the BJP-led central government's use of central agencies against the opposition and said that the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax have become ‘the cells of the BJP'. He stated that no member in his family has been spared by these agencies and that these fear-mongering tactics are being used to vilify opposition leaders and suppress democratic processes. “Many of our leaders are being raided currently. ED, IT raids are underway. But we are not going to be scared. We will struggle. We are fighting for you," the RJD leader said at the maha rally.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury started his speech with the significance of Ramlila Maidan which has given birth to historic national movements. He spoke about how 47 years ago a rousing call emanated from Ramlila Maidan calling upon people to join the battle and choose between ‘freedom or slavery’. It was that very call that led to the elections later in 1977 where India defeated the authoritarianism of Emergency rule and restored democracy. “The corruption, loot, unemployment, hunger and inflation that we see today – if we want to rid the country of these, then we will have to get rid of this (BJP) government. If we want to save this country then we will have to defeat these communal and authoritarian forces and vote for a secular democratic alternative”. He urged the participants of the maha rally and those watching his speech to proclaim ‘Judega Bharat, Jeetaga INDIA’ and to make it a reality in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by voting out BJP.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cautioned that the BJP coming back into power with the backing of 3-4 billionaires is a threat to the constitution and their win would signify that the country can be run through police, threats and coercion. "Have you heard of match-fixing? When by pressuring the umpire, buying the player, scaring the captain, the match is won… Election Commissioners were put in place by Narendra Modi, two CMs were jailed, our accounts were sealed – why couldn’t this be done six months later and not just before the elections?” he asked while addressing the maha rally. He said that no power in the world can suppress the voice of the people of India, and that the people will directly answer BJPs false claim of winning 400+ seats through ‘match-fixing’ tactics in the upcoming election.
Sunita Kejriwal read out a letter from her husband, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal which she said he sent from the Enforcement Directorate's custody. "I am not asking for votes today... I invite 140 crore Indians to make a new India. India is a great nation with thousands of years old civilisation. If the INDIA Alliance is given an opportunity, we will build a new India," she stated on behalf of the Delhi CM and also read out six guarantees on uninterrupted and affordable electricity access, strengthened public schools and last mile health services, remunerative prices for crops for farmers and statehood for Delhi.
Kalpana Soren, Jharkhand ex-CM Hemant Soren’s wife was present at the rally as the voice of "50 per cent of the population of the country – the women – and the nine per cent adivasi population. "We, the tribals, have a long story of struggle and sacrifices. We are proud of our history. The gathering (at Ramlila Maidan) is evidence that the way autocratic forces are trying to attack democracy, this assembly has gathered against it," she said. She charged that the rights and protections provided by Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution are being destroyed by the BJP/ NDA government. She urged the sea of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan to “come forward to fight for democracy”.
Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav proclaimed that a nervous BJP that has been threatened by the INDIA bloc's unity, has resorted to arresting elected chief ministers like Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal. He said that such dictatorial actions have brought disrepute to Indian democracy which was till now seen with respect by the entire world. Talking about PDA i.e., Pichhade (backward classes) Dalits and Alpsankhyak (Minorities), Akhilesh said the BJP deprived the three sections of the society of their entitlements which have been provided by the Constitution of India.
There was no doubt from hearing the speeches of opposition leaders or the discussions among the participants of the maha rally that the upcoming 2024 elections will be a critical juncture in deciding the fate of the country and of the 140 crore Indians. Despite the undemocratic roadblocks orchestrated by BJP regime, the INDIA alliance and the maha rally participants strongly proclaimed that they were determined to fight and win to save our democracy.
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