Oppn leaders gather for 3rd time in a month in a show of unity; gun for Modi

Opposition leaders gathered on Wednesday for the third time in less than a month in a show of unity and mounted a blistering attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, saying the two should be "ousted" in the coming elections as they are a "threat" to democracy and constitutional values.

In fiery speeches at a mega rally, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted the situation in the country is "more dangerous" than emergency while her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal said people should not repeat the mistake of making a "class 12 pass out" as prime minister and they should back an "educated" leader.

Besides Banerjee and Kejriwal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), NCP's Sharad Pawar, DMK's Kanimozhi, ex-Arunachal chief minister Gegong Apang, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and Samajawadi Party(SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav spoke at the rally at Jantar Mantar.

Banerjee gave a clarion call to opposition parties to fight unitedly at the national level to oust the BJP-led NDA from power.

"Any fight with the Congress will remain in the state(West Bengal). At the national level, we will fight together, this I am saying from the heart... For the greater interest of the country, I am ready to sacrifice my life, my party. I am ready to sacrifice everything," she said, adding democracy in the country has become 'Namocracy'.

Firing political salvos and using trenchant wit, the TMC supremo appealed to all the opposition parties to play to their strengths and not cut into each others' votes. She also asked them to ensure they get all the seats in the states they are strong in.

"I went to a Gandhi statue and and thought that Modi has to be removed", she said,
Congress leader Sharma said "this dharna is a message of voice of India that has been betrayed in the last five year by BJP and Modi"