Rally to protect democracy: INDIA bloc

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday asserted that the INDIA opposition bloc's "Loktantra bachao rally" to be held at the Ramlila Maidan here is aimed at saving the Constitution and democracy and not any particular person.

It said a "strong message" will be sent out from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance's (INDIA) rally on Sunday to Lok Kalyan Marg

(where the prime minister's residence is located) that the BJP-led government's "time is up".

Addressing a press conference on the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi will address the rally, among other senior leaders.

"It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao Rally. This is not one party's rally, about 27-28 parties are involved in it.

All constituents of the INDIA janbandhan will be taking part in the rally," Ramesh said.

His remarks assume significance in view of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders pitching the rally as being specific to protesting against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate. Ramesh said the INDIA bloc sounded its Lok Sabha poll bugle in Mumbai on March 17 and the rally would be its second poll bugle. He said it will also send out a message of solidarity and unity among the bloc.

Ramesh said the issues of rising prices, the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, economic disparities, social polarization and injustice against farmers will be raised by opposition leaders at the rally. He said another key issue that would be raised is the targeting of the opposition through the "misuse of central agencies". Two chief ministers and several ministers have been arrested in a bid to target opposition parties politically, Ramesh alleged.