Patna: In a show of Opposition unity, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others, attended Lalu Prasad's much-hyped 'desh bachao, BJP bhagao​' rally here on Sunday.


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Also present was rebel leader Sharad Yadav, who shared a stage for the first time with RJD chief, ignoring JD(U)'s warning not to attend it.


He was accompanied by suspended JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar.


Others who came to the rally were CP Joshi of the Congress, NCP's Tarique Anwar, RLD's Choudhary Jayant Singh, CPI's Sudhakar Reddy, former Jharkhand CMs Hemant Soren of JMM, Babulal Marandi of the JVM, AIUDF leader Baadruddin Azmal and leaders from the DMK, JD(S) and RSP.


Addressing the people, Mamata applauded people for coming in big numbers for the cause.


"Last time I came here, it was for the people of Bihar and not for Nitish Kumar. In the next elections, BJP is going to lose and Lalu ji will win. Nitish Kumar took votes in Lalu's name and look what happened," she said.


She also said, "we will not allow the country to be divided."


Slamming the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, the TMC chief said, "three years have passed in the name of ‘achhe din’ without anything visible."


Continuing her tirade, Mamata said, "The Centre is using agencies to terrorise people, who dare to speak against it. But I am not afraid of anyone," as per ANI.


"What they had said before demonetisation, nothing has happened. The country has to face loss, because of demonetisation. The economic condition of the country has deteriorated because of it. People do not know how much money has been deposited with the RBI after demonetisation," she added.


On the other hand, Akhilesh said, "Due to the GST and demonetisation, so many youth have become unemployed and the BJP needs to give us an account for that."


He further said that India was a nation of hard work and struggle and added, "We want a nation of farmers and the youth."


Boasting about his party's achievements, Akhilesh said that he and his party made Uttar Pradesh a state of farmers and the youth.


On his part, Lalu dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to do whatever they could against him and his family.


"I will neither bow before fascist and communal forces like the BJP, nor stop our fight against them till their defeat in the next General Elections," the former Bihar CM said, as per IANS.


He also said he would prefer to be hanged rather than compromise on his principles and political ideology.

"I was the one who used to warn people across the country during the 2014 election campaigning that if the BJP came to power, the country will face danger and problems. My apprehensions were ignored by many at that time, but have been proved true now," the RJD chief said.

The former Railway Minister accused the central government of misusing the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation to lodge 'false cases' against him and his son and daughter to defame them.


Accusing Bihar CM of betraying the public mandate by breaking the Grand Alliance in the state, Lalu said the JD(U) leader (Nitish) had no principles, no ideology but only love for power.

He said he was aware of Nitish's designs of political betrayal and was not ready to name him the CM candidate when the Grand Alliance was formed in Bihar.

"I was not ready to declare Nitish the chief ministerial candidate due to his track record of betraying. It was the then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav who persuaded me to agree to his name for the post," the RJD leader said.

He claimed that Nitish was envious of and feared his younger son and former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's popularity.



Significantly BSP chief Mayawati skipped the rally. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and VP Rahul too were absent.


However, Rahul sent a message for the event.


"I am glad to know that you have organised a large public meeting in Patna on August 27 in which leaders of various (opposition) parties with a common ideology are taking part. This rally is being organised at a time when the very foundation of our pluralistic democracy is under severe attack. Using money and muscle power, the ruling party (BJP) is extending its rule into states where it could not secure the electoral mandate," he said in his message.

The Congress VP said that barring a few people close to the government, every section of society is "bearing the brunt of anti-people and anti-poor policies" of this (central) government. 

"I am sure this rally will expose the evil designs of the ruling party and its government. I had wished to attend this rally but could not, thanks to an official trip to Norway. I convey my best wishes to all those taking part in the rally," he added.



Also present at the rally were Lalu's younger son and Tejashwi, his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, his wife and former state CM Rabri Devi and their daughter Misa Bharti.


Tejashwi said that Nitish Kumar was like an uncle and would always be. 


He also said that he didn't know what was the fear that lead to Bihar CM leaving the Grand Alliance and called him a political turncoat hungry for power. 


He said that there was not even a single person left who Nitish Kumar has not betrayed.



(With Agency inputs)