Rahul, Lalu likely to address INDIA bloc’s mega rally in Ranchi

Ranchi, Apr 21 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s spouse Kalpana are expected to address the ‘Ulgulan Nyay’ rally in Ranchi on Sunday, in a mega show of strength for opposition bloc INDIA. A total of 28 political parties will take part in the rally, which will be held at the Prabhat Tara Ground. The rally will also be addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Derek O’Brien, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI (ML) Liberation.

Over 5 lakh people are expected to attend the rally, being held amid the ongoing elections. Jharkhand CM Champai Soren claimed the Centre’s “dictatorial attitude” would be exposed during the rally.

“The rally will expose the atrocities being committed by the central government on tribals and natives of the state and the conspiracy to drive them away from Jal, Jungle and Jamin,” he posted on X. ‘Ulugulan’, which means revolution, was coined during Birsa Munda’s fight against the British for the rights of the tribals. The chief minister said that this time, the ‘ulgulan’ was against inflation, injustice to farmers and the “crushing” of the opposition. Quoting Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana posted on X, “Jharkhand will not bow down.” Taking a dig, state BJP president Deepak Prakash said “all corrupt forces” were coming for a family get-together at the rally. Leader of the opposition Amar Bauri said that JMM could not cover up the actions of its leaders by using “sacred words like ulgulan”. “Birsa Munda did ‘ulgulan’ against the injustice and oppression of the British. By using the word ‘ulgulan’, they are playing with the sentiments of the people of Jharkhand, which has been their old way of doing politics,” he said.