Pune: “There was an external threat to our country during the pre-Independence era. Now, there is an internal threat to our country and we have to struggle against our own people. Democracy and constitution is in danger due to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Hence, we have come together to defeat them,” appealed former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday in Pune while addressing the ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ conclusion rally. The rally began on August 31 from Kolhapur.

The Congress concluded the campaign on Saturday in Pune with a rally at SSPMS ground on Saturday. With this, the Congress has kicked off its campaign for forthcoming state assembly and Lok Sabha polls. 

State assembly opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, senior leader Manikrao Thackeray, state president Ashok Chavan and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan were also present.

During the rally, the party showed short films showing BJP’s shortcomings. Azad said, “During struggle for independence, Britishers used ‘lathi’ to suppress people. Now, the government is using CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to do the same.” 

Kharge said, “BJP is ruling in state and Centre for last four years but they have failed to fulfill their assurances mentioned in their manifesto. Make in India, Stand Up india and Skill India campaign are failures. There is no employment generation in last four years. Demonetisation could not stop terrorism and black money. Petrol and diesel prices are going up day by day. This was not the situation during UPA government despite price rise in the international market. Now, time has come to save democracy and Only people can save democracy and Constitution by defeating the BJP.”