INDIA Bloc’s First Rally in MP Cancelled; CM Shivraj Says People Angry Over Sanatana Dharma Remark – News18

The first joint rally of the opposition INDIA alliance which was scheduled to take place in October has been cancelled, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath informed on Saturday.

Slamming the opposition, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed the INDIA bloc cancelled its first rally as people were angry that they “insulted” Sanatana Dharma.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala said no final decision has been taken on when and where it will now be held, NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, Chouhan said the people of MP will not tolerate this insult to Sanatana. “Understand that our faith has been attacked. This attack will not be tolerated at any cost. There is public anger, hence the rally was cancelled. People will not let this go,” he said, adding that there is no strength in the alliance’s leadership.

Earlier on September 13, the opposition bloc decided to hold their first joint public meeting in Bhopal in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh in the first week of October, and said the constituent parties will start seat-sharing talks “at the earliest.”

The opposition alliance had said it will raise issues related to rising prices, unemployment, corruption and caste census. The decisions were taken at the first meeting of the coordination committee of the INDIA grouping which was held at the residence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in New Delhi.

Twelve leaders of the 14-member panel, the highest decision-making body of the

alliance, were present at the meeting that took place against the backdrop of a raging row over DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remark on the Sanatan Dharma.

Over two dozen opposition parties have formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to challenge the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

At the first meeting of the Opposition bloc in Patna in June, it was decided that the strongest candidate from each seat would be picked up for the Lok Sabha polls.

Sources said that leaders of several opposition parties have sought an early seat-sharing formula to be worked out to ensure that a joint opposition candidate is put up against BJP candidates in Lok Sabha seats.

However, several leaders said the parties have to “shed their egos” and “vested interests” in arriving at such a formula.

Union minister Anurag Thakur said on Saturday the public will never accept the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of opposition parties, which is attacking the Constitution, suppressing the voice of the media and thinking of destroying Sanatan Dharma.

Thakur said the leaders of the INDIA bloc have only changed their attire, but their behaviour and character remain the same.

He described the opposition alliance as a front of highly-opportunistic and anti-people forces. “The public will never accept the INDIA bloc, which is attacking the Constitution, suppressing the voice of the media and thinking of destroying Sanatan Dharma,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

(With PTI inputs)