‘BJP Bhagao’ Rally: Bihar Will Take Fight Across India, Says Lalu
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said that a united Opposition will throw the BJP out of power in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Lalu Prasad Yadav hosted a massive anti-BJP rally in Patna, called ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav attended the rally.
- Lalu Prasad Yadav held a mega ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ rally at Gandhi Maidan, Patna
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav attended rally
- Congress president Sonia Gandhi failed to attend rally, but addressed the crowd via video message
- Security was beefed up in Patna ahead of the rally
JD(U) Leader KC Tyagi Hints Sharad Yadav Might Lose RS Membership
The JD(U) will write to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu seeking disqualification of its rebel leader Sharad Yadav, who attended an opposition rally in Patna defying the party's directive against it.
JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said Yadav's participation in the rally of an opposition party was a fit case for disqualification under Schedule 10 of its constitution as it amounted to anti-party activity.
He cited the examples of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Upendra Kushwaha, who were disqualified on this ground.
Tyagi had written a letter to Yadav a couple of days back, warning that his attending the rally organised by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad would mean he has acted against the principles of the party and voluntarily quit its membership.
JD(U) sources made it clear that the party will not expel Yadav, a founding member of the party and its longest serving president, as it would allow him to retain his Rajya Sabha membership.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mamata Banerjee Address Rally
Lalu's Son Tej Pratap Blows the Conch Shell at the Rally
Rahul Gandhi Regrets Not Attending the Rally
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi regrets not being able to attend the rally. Gandhi is currently in Norway.
Sharad Yadav Addresses Rally
Audio Message by Sonia Gandhi Played Out
Congress president Sonia Gandhi couldn’t make it to the rally, but an audio message was played out for the massive crowd.
Massive Turnout at Rally
Akhilesh Addresses 'BJP Bhagao' Rally
'Aisa Koi Saga Nahi Jisse Nitish Ne Thagga Nahi'
Tejashwi Yadav took jibes at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s recent U-turn and dissolution of the Grand Alliance.
JDU's Sharad Yadav Joins Lalu
Despite warnings from JD(U), rebel leader Sharad Yadav joined Lalu on stage.
Mamata Banerjee Arrives
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has arrived at the rally. She was seen sitting next to Lalu’s wife, Rabri Devi.
Ghulam Nabi Azad Represents Congress at Rally
Ghulam Nabi Azad is attending the rally, representing the Congress as party president Sonia Gandhi could not make it.
Akhilesh Yadav, Lalu's Family Reach Venue
Several members of Lalu’s family are on stage as the rally begins. Akhilesh Yadav has also arrived.
Large Crowds Throng Patna's Gandhi Maidan
Large crowds have gathered at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, ahead of Lalu’s rally. The Quint’s Neeraj Gupta is reporting live from the ground.
Although 15 parties are participating in the rally, Samajwadi Party flags seem to dominate.
Tejashwi Yadav Speaks to The Quint
Ahead of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ rally, Tejashwi Yadav speaks to The Quint’s Neeraj Gupta.
Participation from Political Heavyweights Expected
RJD chief Lalu Prasad's mega 'BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao' rally in Patna on 27 August to oust the BJP, will see participation from political heavyweights like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Lalu asserted that the rally would be an important event ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll in which a united Opposition would throw the BJP out of power.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who is at loggerheads with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has also confirmed his participation in the rally.
While Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi will not be present, senior leaders from Congress, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, CP Joshi, and Hanumantha Rao, would represent the party, sources said.
BJP, RJD Take Potshots At Each Other
The BJP and JD(U) took potshots at the RJD rally saying it comes at a time when the state is witnessing massive floods in 19 districts.
In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lalu said,
The BJP leader and state health minister Mangal Pandey accused Lalu and his party of being insensitive towards flood victims whom neither he nor his party men visited at “the time of distress”.
JU(U) also sided with their ally BJP, and took a dig at RJD.
Security Beefed Up in Patna
Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal said that over 6,000 policemen would be deployed for the rally on Sunday.
He added that 64 CCTV cameras, 32 inside Gandhi Maidan and as many outside it, have been installed.
The RJD supporters started arriving in Patna for the rally at the Gandhi Maidan on Saturday.
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