Kolkata: Opposition stalwarts from across the nation received huge applause for their repeated humorous digs at the Modi government during the anti-BJP rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here on Saturday.
“The expiry date of BJP-government is over. So the New Year will be a fresh change,” Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the organiser of the rally, said as she began her address.
Fond of poetry, the TMC leader coined interesting Bengali phrases like ‘Bajar e legeche aagun, jagun Bangla jagun’ (Market is on fire, Bengal wake up), ‘Loot er takay vote lootche shob note’ (Votes are conducted using looted money) and ‘Onek hoyeche Acche din, Ebar BJP ke baad din’ (Enough of ‘Acche Din’, get rid of BJP now).
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah took a swipe at the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) calling it a ‘chor machine’ (stealing machine).
“The EVM is a ‘stealing machine’ and there are many countries in the world who conduct polls without such machines. It is not hidden how the votes are manipulated using this. We must appeal to the Election Commission to go back to the traditional ballot system of voting,” Abdullah said.
Referring to what he called ‘vindictive and undemocratic’ nature of the present government, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “Years ago after Laluji’s (RJD chief Lalu Prasad) rally in Bihar, an income tax notice was issued but no one questioned Amit Shah’s repeated rallies in Uttar Pradesh. This is this central government’s double standard. Aaj agar kahe tussi great ho koi notice nahi aayega (If one praise the government and speaks of its greatness there would no notice be send against them).
“Modi aur Amit Shah jaane wale hai, aur Acche din aane waale hai (It is time for Narenda Modi and Amit Shah’s exit which will be a harbinger of prosperous days),” Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party head Arvind Kejriwal said, taking potshots at Modi’s slogan of ‘acche din’.
Dissident BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha criticised the government’s policies and performances while charming the audience with his oratory skills. “Ek taraf GST doosri taraf notebandi isse kehte hai Neem pe karela (The implementation of GST and demonetisation was like the combination of bitter gourd and neem). There is a huge gap between government’s performances and promises,” Sinha pointed out.
Directly targeting the Prime Minister, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav said: “Modiji is a factory, manufacturer and distributor of lies. He can gives 10 lies free along with one lie. His promises are all fake, so we need to be cautious.”
IANS
