Congress to lead protest march today over NDA ‘targeting’ Opposition

The Congress is organising a ‘Save Democracy’ march on Friday morning in protest against the NDA’s “all-out attack” on opposition-ruled state governments, universities, students and parliamentary institutions.

The Congress is organising a ‘Save Democracy’ march on Friday morning in protest against the NDA’s alleged “all-out attack” on opposition-ruled state governments, universities, students and parliamentary institutions.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi leading her party in protest to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in November 2015. The party is taking out a similar protest march on Friday against the NDA’s alleged campaign on opposition-ruled state governments. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT File Photo)

Coming amid an escalating confrontation over the AgustaWestland chopper scam in Parliament, the party is expected to talk about NDA’s alleged campaign of “deceit and deliberate lies” against the opposition. The march is also expected to highlight the drought and agrarian crisis which has led to a spate of suicides by farmers and affected 40 crore people in 10 states.

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi among others will address the gathering at Jantar Mantar. Sonia will later lead the march to the Parliament House.

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Friday’s march follows several issues, including the legal tussle the NDA and Congress are locked in over the imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand. Congress’ Harish Rawat led-government was deposed while the government in Arunachal Pradesh was ousted. They also allege the BJP is attempting to destabilise the party rule in Himachal Pradesh.

The Congress has mobilised leaders and party workers from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh for the march. Leaders will reportedly address the BJP and NDA government’s “assault” on JNU, Hyderabad and Allahabad universities and students. They are also expected to touch upon parliamentary committees being overlooked.

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The Congress held a similar march last year on March 17 to protest the controversial land acquisition bill. Sonia had led opposition leaders to Rashtrapati Bhavan against the bill the party had dubbed “anti-farmer and pro-corporate”. This was followed by a rally at Ram Lila grounds on April 19.