Black-clad opposition leaders lead protest march against centre
Guwahati: Opposition party leaders marched in protest while dressed in black to protest Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from Congress and the Adani Group controversy.
A number of leaders marched from the Parliament building towards Vijay Chowk to demonstrate their unanimity in opposition to the BJP-led national government on Monday in New Delhi.
Opposition MPs could be seen shouting anti-government slogans and calling for the creation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the Adani mining controversy at the Gandhi statue in the compound. The leaders of the protest were seen brandishing signs and yelling insults against the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tying them to Adani.
President of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge and UPA Chair Sonia Gandhi also participated in the demonstration.
Similar-minded Opposition leaders met in Mallikarjun Kharge’s office before the protest. DMK, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Bharat Rashtra Samithi, CPI(M), RJD, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI, IUML, MDMK, Kerala Congress, TMC, RSP, AAP, J-K NC, and Shiv Sena were among the opposition parties present at the conference (Uddhav faction). Lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress attended the conference as well.
The protest march happens after both Houses of Parliament adjourned shortly after they started. Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm and Lok Sabha till 4 pm on Monday.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge while speaking to media persons said, “I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well. We welcome anyone who comes forward to protect democracy and Constitution and safeguard the people. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the people who support us.”
“Why are we here in black clothes? We want to show that PM Modi is ending democracy in the country. He first finished autonomous bodies, and then they put up their own government everywhere by threatening those who had won polls,” Kharge further said.