In a press conference held after meeting with 🔯Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, the All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal said on Monday that PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have sabotaged democracy in the country and there was need for all opposition parties to fight unitedly against this dictatorship.
Venugopal on Monday arrived in the metropolis in the evening and held a meeting with ☂Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for more than half an hour, after which both leaders addressed a press conference.
What did Venugopal say?
"We have witnessed how democracy has been sabotaged by Modi and Amit Shah. All the opposition parties have a general consensus to fight together against the dictatorship of Modi. The Congress is in full solidarity with t♔he Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). We are all in agreement that we have♛ to fight these forces (BJP) together," he said.
During the previous Parliamentary session, all opposition parties were meeting for a common strategy un💃der the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Ve🉐nugopal said.
"It was the government side that was disrupting proceedings in Parliament. We only sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Adani issue. They (BJP) didꦬ not want this, hence, resorted to disturbing proceedings," he saiꦛd.
Venugopa♏l said the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate were targeting opposition parties, especially the Shiv Sena (UBT).
He said there was a feeling among all opposition parties for a broader unity, which is why Kharge an🃏d Rahul Gandhi met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav as well as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
"There are some differences among political parties. They have their own ideologies but the country is facing a bigger 🥃issue. This type of atmosphere (under the Modi government) has never been witness🍰ed before," Venugopal claimed.
Speaking on his discussion with Tꦫhackeray, the Congress leader said it was a fruitful one where a lot of issues were deliberat💧ed upon.
"Hum saath hain (we are together) is the message we want to give,&ꦑquot; he added.
"I hꦅave requested Uddhavji to come to Delhi to meet Soniaji. Then Rahul Gandhi will also definitely visit Mumbai,” he said in response to a media query.
Speaking at the press conference, Thackeray, without naming Modi, used terms like "man-eater" and "power-hungry" for the current dispensation at the Ceไntre.
"I don't think it is wrong to use such terminology against them (BJP-led Union government). Only one person is considered important. The Shiv Sena is in the arena with all its strength," the former Maharashtra chief mi🔯nister said.
"We were with them (BJP) for 25 years but they have forꦬgotten this friends🔴hip. We (Shiv Sena) are a party that lives up to friendship. We treat it like a relation," he said.
On BJP national president JP Nadda's recent comments in Mumbai that there won't be any other party left in the country, Thackeray said, "He may have said it unintentionally but it♚ is something we have to oppose. The Sena will fight for democra🐈cy."
Thackeray sa💦id his party had spoken to Sonia Gandh🎉i and Rahul Gandhi, adding the (Lok Sabha) elections are not even a year away.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the Nation🍸alist Congress Party make up the Maha Vikas Aghad🎃i, which was in power in Maharashtra till June last year.
A rebellion by Eknath Shinde led to a split in the Sena. Shinde went on to become chief minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Par🌼ty.
(With PTI Inputs)
