All the major Opposition parties on Monday converged at Andhra Bhawan, where Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu along with all his legislators, MPs and Ministers sat down on a 12-hour fast protesting against the Narendra Modi government’s failure to deliver the promised special status to the State. This was the second time the Opposition got together in a month.

The last such gathering was at a rally by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata protesting against the CBI’s alleged misconduct.

Left skip event

The CPI and the CPI (M) skipped the event since they are part of the Pawan Kalyan-led front against the TDP in Andhra Pradesh.

Opening the day-long protest for justice, Mr. Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not follow “raj dharma.” “Atal Bihari Vajpayee said ‘raj dharma’ was not followed in Gujarat (during the 2002 riots). Now, raj dharma is not being followed in the case of Andhra Pradesh. We have been denied what was rightfully ours,” he said.

The Andhra CM alleged that Mr. Modi was “unfit” to rule the country and that he went to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh “only to rub salt into our wounds.”

“On behalf of five crore people of Andhra, I am warning this government... I came here to remind you of the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act,” he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who was one of the first Opposition leaders to visit the fast venue, said the Prime Minister had made a habit of lying on the special status. “He goes to Andhra Pradesh, he lies about the special status. He goes to the North-East, he tells another lie over there. He has absolutely got no credibility left,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said the No-Confidence Motion moved by the TDP had brought the Opposition together. “This is not a fight of any one political party, it is not a fight of the TDP or TMC alone. This is a fight to save the Constitution, to save secularism and to save the nation,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: “One may have voted for any party but after elections, whoever wins and becomes the CM, is the CM of the entire State and not of a particular party. Similarly, when one becomes the PM, then he is the PM of the entire country, not just one party. The way PM Modi treats governments of Opposition parties in States, he behaves like he is not the PM of India but the PM of Pakistan.”

Mr. Naidu was seen showing the clippings of his exchanges with Mr. Modi in Andhra Pradesh to all the political leaders who came. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said the Prime Minister had stooped so low as to make personal remarks against Mr. Naidu. “The Jammu-Srinagar highway is closed for six days. They cannot clear the 30km road, but they want to rule the country,” he added.

Just cause, says DMK

Stating that Mr. Naidu was fighting for a just cause, DMK leader Siva said the Modi government would be ousted in three months. He also reminded the gathering that Mr. Naidu had played a vital role in the earlier coalition governments. “The powers of the State are being encroached upon,” he said.

Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav said the Modi-Shah claim that the Opposition has no prime ministerial face is grounded in ignorance. “In 1996 or 1989 we did not have any prime ministerial face and yet we managed to win the election and find a credible candidate,” he added.

Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Ahmed Patel and Jairam Ramesh were also at the venue to express their support. Among others who met Mr. Naidu were former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, NCP’s Majeed Memon, JD (S) chief Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha.

On Tuesday, Mr. Naidu, along with ministers, MPs and legislators, will march from Andhra Bhawan to Jantar Mantar before meeting President of India Ram Nath Kovind at noon.