Mamata, Akhilesh, Sharad Yadav ​attend Lalu Prasad’s rally

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Patna, August 27, 2017 (PTI): Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad attended Lalu Prasad’s much-hyped ’Desh Bachao, BJP Bhagao​’ rally here on Sunday.

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 said.

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 slammed Nitish and said that he Bihar CM was not a good person.

"All the NDA leaders are my products. I have made Nitish. I got into alliance with him with a heavy heart," he said and added, "I let Nitish run the government. However,  he was jealous of Tejashwi. I have not seen a turncoat like Nitish. He has sat in the lap of the Sangh."

Taking on the BJP, RJD chief said, "We take a pledge to unseat those fanning communal passions. False cases have been lodged against me to scare me."

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

Also present at the rally were Lalu Prasad’s younger son and former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, 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.