Opposition Meeting in Bengaluru LIVE Updates:
The second day of talks of the Opposition concluded in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 18 July, with the new alliance being named 'INDIA' - Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance and the parties drafting a joint resolution to 'safeguard democracy.'
"It is a great achievement for us that all parties together will solve many problems of the country. An 11-member coordination committee will be set up," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.
The next meeting will be held in Mumbai where the 11 committee members will be elected, he said.
Video Producer/Editor: Shohini Bose
"One secretariat will be set up for campaign management and other committees for specific issues will be set up in Delhi since it is the capital and it is convenient for everybody," he said.
A joint resolution has also been drafted by the parties, he said.
Ahead of the NDA meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Opposition meeting to call the parties an alliance of "corruption and dynasty politics."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar arrives for the opposition leaders meeting, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, 18 July, 2023.
(Photo: PTI)
Attacking the BJP, Rahul Gandhi said that the party is destroying India and its democratic fabric. "The country's voice is being muffled. This is the fight for the country's voice and that is why this name was chosen."
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in the press briefing said that the strength of the alliance is only rising in the country.
"Can NDA challenge INDIA? Can the BJP challenge INDIA?" TMC chief Mamata Banerjee asked.
The next meeting of the alliance will be held in Mumbai, the date for which is yet to be decided.
'Joint Resolution of INDIA Alliance'
Here's the full draft of the joint resolution by 26 parties of INDIA alliance:
"We, the undersigned leaders of India’s 26 progressive parties, express our steadfast resolve to safeguard the idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution. The character of our republic is being severely assaulted in a systematic manner by the BJP. We are at a most crucial juncture in our nation’s history. The foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution – secular democracy, economic sovereignty, social justice and federalism – are being methodically and menacingly undermined.
We express our grave concern over the humanitarian tragedy that has destroyed Manipur. The silence of the Prime Minister is shocking and unprecedented. There is an urgent need to bring Manipur back on the path of peace and reconciliation.
We are determined to combat and confront the continuing assault on the Constitution and on constitutional rights of democratically elected state governments. There is a deliberate attempt to weaken the federal structure of our polity. The role of Governors & LGs in non-BJP ruled states has exceeded all constitutional norms. The brazen misuse of agencies by the BJP government against political rivals is undermining our democracy. Legitimate needs, requirements and entitlements of non BJP ruled states are being actively denied by the Centre.
We reinforce our resolve to confront the grave economic crisis of ever-rising prices of essential commodities and record unemployment. Demonetisation brought with it untold misery to the MSME and unorganised sectors, resulting in large scale unemployment among our youth. We oppose the reckless sale of the nation’s wealth to favored friends. We must build a fair economy with a strong and strategic public sector as well as a competitive and flourishing private sector, in which the spirit of enterprise is fostered and given every opportunity to expand. The welfare of Kisan and Khet Mazdur should always get the highest priority.
We have come together to defeat the hatred and violence being manufactured against minorities; stop the rising crimes against women, Dalits, Adivasis and Kashmiri Pandits; demand a fair hearing for all socially, educationally and economically backward communities; and, as a first step, implement the Caste Census.
We resolve to fight the systemic conspiracy by BJP to target, persecute and suppress our fellow Indians. Their poisonous campaign of hate has led to vicious violence against all those opposed to the ruling party and its divisive ideology. These attacks are not only violating constitutional rights and freedoms but also eroding the basic values upon which the Republic of India is founded - Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and Justice – Political, Economic and Social. The repeated attempts by the BJP to vitiate public discourse by reinventing and rewriting Indian history are an affront to social harmony.
We pledge to present to the nation an alternative political, social and economic agenda. We promise to transform both the substance and style of governance that will be more consultative, democratic and participative.
Jai Hind!"
Who Will lead INDIA Alliance?: What Kharge Said
On being asked about who will lead the alliance, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that talks to form an 11-member committee will take place in Mumbai.
'Need to Destroy Politics of Hate': Rahul Gandhi
Attacking the BJP, Rahul Gandhi said that the party is destroying India and its democratic fabric.
"The country's voice is being muffled. This is the fight for the country's voice and that is why this name was chosen - Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance - INDIA. This is a fight between BJP and India, Narendra Modi and India, their ideology and India," he said.
"We will come up with an action plan to talk about the country's core ideology and our steps to safeguard it," he added..
'The Country is Our Family': Uddhav Thackeray
Taking a jibe at PM Modi's comments on dynasty politics, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said: "Kharge ji has announced the name - INDIA. But we hope to take India forward. They said that the ideologies don't match, but politics is supposed to have different ideologies. Some people are accusing us of fighting for our families but the country is our family," he said.