Mumbai, Jan 29 (Mumbai Mirror): Former BJP MP Nana Patole said the Opposition parties must come together to protect democratic values and “save the country from dictatorship”.

Patole, who represents Bhandara- Gondia in East Maharashtra, joined the Congress early this month after falling out with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. “The need of the hour is that the Opposition parties should come together to uphold democratic values. Whatever is happening in the country today shows that we are on the path to dictatorship,” Patole said.

Patole said the unprecedented press conference of four senior-most Supreme Court judges earlier this month was a disturbing incident. He hailed the Save Constitution march held by Opposition leaders in Mumbai on January 26.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel, Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Sushil Kumar Shinde (Congress) among others had attended the march in south Mumbai.

“The Save Constitution march held on Republic Day was significant,” he said, adding he was “warned” that he would have to face the same situation as Chhagan Bhujbal and Lalu Prasad Yadav -- both in jail in money laundering and corruption cases -- if he speaks against Modi as a Congress member.

When asked to clarify, Patole only said what he meant was “Bahujan leaders” were being selectively targeted, and refused to disclose who “warned” him of consequences.

Patole was the first BJP MP to openly criticise Modi, and had claimed that the PM got angry with him “for raising problems faced by farmers” during a meeting of MPs early last year. “I represented my constituency and have the right to put forward grievances of people to the prime minister,” he said.

Patole claimed that many members of the BJP were “upset” over the prevailing situation, but not all can take a “daring step” like him.