Silvassa, January 19: As opposition parties came together at West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's rally in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a counter-attack at newly-formed alliances of non-BJP parties. After laying the foundation stone for a medical college in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli on Saturday, PM Modi said the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) is formed against people of India.

"This gathbandhan (alliance) is not against Modi but against the people of India," PM Modi said. He said his fight against corruption has brought opposition parties together. "My actions against corruption have infuriated some people. It's but natural for them to get angry as I've prevented them from looting public money. Consequently, they have now formed an alliance called Mahagathbandhan," the prime minister said. Narendra Modi Rides K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Howitzer Built by L&T in Hazia; Watch Video.

PM Modi said those who destroyed the democracy in the country today talk about saving it. "Currently, they (opposition parties) are not even properly together and already that have started bargaining for their share," he said. PM Modi's remarks came on a day when non-BJP parties have gathered at the Brigade Parade Ground rally where they vowed to oust the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, who severed his ties with Bharatiya Janata Party in 2018, said at his age he wanted nothing in life but the ouster of the Modi government for which the entire opposition should unite. He suggested all the opposition parties should field one common candidate against the BJP across the country so that the NDA government could be "thrown out lock, stock and barrel".

Another former Union Minister Arun Shourie attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his demonetisation decision that set the economy backwards and inflicted misery on the common man and for messing up with a simple idea like the Goods and Services Tax, making it cumbersome.

Among those who attended the rally were Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, DMK chief MK Stalin, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Nationalist Congress Party head Sharad Pawar. Although Congress president Rahul Gandhi could not make it to the event, he had extended his support in a letter addressed to Banerjee.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 19, 2019 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).