Shatrughan Sinha explains the real goal of Saturday's mega Kolkata rally on Twitter, targets central government again

Sinha, who won the Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket from Patna Sahib in 2014, has been criticising Modi and his government for a long time now.

Sinha had moved away from the party's top leadership after being ignored for a ministerial berth.  

He also appreciated Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for ringing several top opposition leaders on one platform in Kolkata for the mega rally, just months before the Lok Sabha polls which is expected to be held in the mid of the year.

Sinha tweeted: "What an amazing gathering & what a mammoth audience that came together in Bengal in lakhs...to listen to and to support this spontaneous show of solidarity in favour of a change...a parivartan! Kudos to our sister, the great lady of Bengal, the fiery Mamata di, who needs to be roundly complimented for bringing together one of the largest congregations of the strongest and most influential political minds and leaders from all corners of the country on the same stage under a common cause...of saving the Indian democracy from being ruined."

He said: "Outstanding! Phenomenal strength of unity at maha rally in Kolkata today. Trinamool Congress's 'United India' anti- arrogance rally at Brigade Parade grounds was a stupendous show with an incredible turnout of leaders, supporters & people. Leaders from more than 22 political parties cutting across party lines were present.The gathering was a wake up call for the Govt at the centre in many ways. All leaders of the 'Mahagathbandhan' were united & focused as they all had one agenda - "Free India of Arrogance and Dictatorial Governance". Each leader "spoke extremely well, raising all the problems & unanswered burning issues which have long been pending. Unemployment, demonetisation, GST, soaring fuel prices, ED, CBI & most importantly the Rafael issue etc. I was present as the representative of Rashtra Manch, under the dynamic leader & statesman,Yashwant Sinha @YashwantSinha. I also was fortunate to have the blessings of the true mass leader, lady of substance, revolutionary leader, Mamata Banerjee @MamataOfficial.
#UnitedIndiaAtBrigade #Mamata2019Rally."

What did Shatrughan Sinha say during Saturday's rally?

Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday said the country could continue to say "chowkidaar chor hai" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi until he clearly answers questions related to the Rafale issue.

Speaking at the mega opposition rally against the BJP in Kolkata on Saturday, Sinha said: "I am a Bharat ka janta (an Indian) first before being a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)."

Saying many people asked him why he spoke against the BJP despite being a party member, he said: "I cannot compromise with the truth."

"If speaking the truth is rebellion, then I am a rebel," he said.

"During Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reign, we were a democracy. Now, it's a dictatorship," he said, adding that all he did was for the benefit of the party.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who spoke after Sinha, said the Prime Minister was a big lier.

"Modi will say one lie and give 10 lies for free," he said.

The mega rally:

From anti-Modi BJP leader like Shatrughan Sinha to Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav to DMK chief MK Stalin, all senior leaders of Indian regional and national parties attended the rally on Saturday in Kollata.

Modi's expiry date has come: Mamata at united India rally in Kolkata

Former BJP leader Arun Shourie to Dalit leader like Jignesh Mevani to Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and Nationalist Congress Party head Sharad Pawar, top leaders of India took part in the rally dubbed as "United India Rally".

While Chief Minister Banerjee had  termed the rally as "United India Rally"  political pundits view it as the pitching of the Bengal CM as a probable PM alternative if the BJP failed to return to power with majority or a fractured mandate gives the Opposition to keep BJP out of power. 

Image: Shatrughan Sinha Twitter page