The united front of 26 opposition parties, who attended a crucial meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday, will be known as INDIA—an acronym of Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance. The meeting has set the tone for the opposition’s campaign for the 2024 general elections, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling it a battle of “Modi versus INDIA”.
“We are defending Constitution, voice of Indians and the idea of India. You know what happens to anyone who wants to fight the idea of India… The fight is between NDA and INDIA, Narendra Modi and INDIA, his ideology and INDIA. India always wins all fights,” Rahul said after the meeting.
The name ‘INDIA’ was announced on the second day of the mega meeting where, according to reports, the allies suggested a new name for the alliance. The next meeting will be held in Mumbai, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, adding that the Convenor of the alliance will be decided at this meeting.
“NDA, BJP, can you challenge I.N.D.I.A.?” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked at the press meet. “We love our motherland. We are the patriotic people of the country. We are for the country, the world, farmers, for all,” she said.
A resolution passed at the meeting launched a scathing attack on the ruling party, saying 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,” it said.
The opposition parties expressed grave concern over the “humanitarian tragedy” in 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,” they said.
The resolution alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to weaken the federal structure of our polity. “The role of Governors and 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,” it said.
“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,” it further said.
