Nation's independence is at stake under Modi's rule, says Mamata

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that the country's independence is at stake under the rule of Narendra Modi and in the same breath, urged the people of the nation to shun their narrow self-interests and vote to oust the saffron party in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

"I am very optimistic about the people's front. The country is in a volatile situation under the rule of BJP. I will urge all the people of the country not to be carried away by self-interest and vote for toppling the Narendra Modi government at the Centre," Banerjee said at Kolkata Airport, while leaving for Visakhapatnam to attend a United India rally.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu has invited Banerjee to address the rally.

"They are trying to create fear psychosis among the people who have lost the right to express their independent opinion. An autocratic government is running at the Centre. The country's democracy is at stake," Banerjee asserted. She further slammed the Centre for taking over control of the investigating agencies, disinvestment in the public sector and pushing the farmers of the country into a disastrous situation.

"The Opposition should unite to oust the saffron party for saving the democracy of the country," she reiterated.

Banerjee will return to the city on Monday morning and will address an election meeting at Cooch Behar on April 4. She will campaign at Dhubri in Assam on April 5 and then will be speaking at 100 odd meetings in Bengal, in connection with the Lok Sabha polls.

The state, which will be going to polls in seven phases, has 42 Lok Sabha seats. TMC has fielded candidates in nine out of 14 LS seats in Assam.

It may be mentioned that it was Banerjee who had initiated the move to set up the United India front to oust Narendra Modi. On January 19,

the historic United India rally was held in Kolkata, where leaders of 21 political parties took part.

The rally was addressed by political veterans like Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Mallikarjun Kharge. There were youngsters like Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Hardik Patel in the rally as well. M K Stalin had also addressed the rally.

She was the first political leader to criticise the note ban announced by the Prime Minister on November 8, 2016. Over the years, economists of both national and international acclaim have pointed out the disaster which had hit the Indian economy due to the decision of the Narendra Modi government.

In the 2014 election BJP had bagged three seats in Andhra Pradesh, but experts feel that the party has a slim chance of retaining them in 2019.