Those stopped from looting public money are forming 'mahagathbandhan': PM
What's the story
On a day when many opposition parties came together on a common platform in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at their proposed 'mahagathbandhan' or grand alliance, saying it is a combination of those whom he had prevented from "looting" India.
The PM said that it is not against him but people of the country.
Read the details here.
Targeting Mamata
PM took a dig at Mamata without taking her name
PM Modi took a dig at the opposition rally organized today by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata as well as at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, without taking her name.
He said that the BJP has only one MLA in the state, "but still they are so afraid of us that they are saying 'bachao' (save us)".
Allegations
Grand alliance isn't against Modi but people of India: PM
"The 'mahagathbandhan' or grand alliance is not against Narendra Modi but people of India," Modi said while addressing a public function at Silvassa, the capital of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, after laying a foundation stone for a medical college.
"My actions against corruption made some people angry as I prevented them from looting public money. They've formed 'mahagathbandhan'," he said.
Rath yatra
Modi even talked of TMC preventing BJP's Rath Yatras
Modi said such leaders have come together out of fear.
Against the backdrop of the West Bengal government denying permission to BJP to organize Rath Yatras in West Bengal, the PM said political parties in the TMC-ruled state aren't even allowed to carry out their programs.
"Party workers are killed there during elections and they talk about saving democracy," he said.
Mocking opposition
Those involved in suffocating democracy talk about saving it: Modi
"When those involved in suffocating democracy talk of saving it, then people will say 'wah kya baat hai...'," said PM mocking the parties opposing the BJP.
Leaders of an array of opposition parties are taking part in the 'United India Rally' in Kolkata, where TMC chief Mamata Banerjee gave a call for changing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.