NEW DELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said it was time to oust the Modi government, which he said had acted against national interest, while Congress president Rahul Gandhi predicted a combined opposition protest over high fuel prices signalled its unity against BJP Turning the protest against record high fuel prices into a joint opposition offensive against the Centre, Rahul said BJP would lose in the 2019 elections.Assuming an unusually aggressive tone, Singh said opposition parties should listen to the voice of the people and shed differences to save the country and democracy. "The Modi government has done a lot that is not in national interest. Now, it has crossed the limit and time is coming to change it," he said, adding that youth, farmers and common people were unhappy at the PM's failure to fulfil his promises.Representatives of 16 political parties joined the protest at a petrol pump near Ramlila Maidan where Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar were present. Others included Aam Aadmi Party, RJD, RLD, DMK, Trinamool Congress, National Conference, JD(S), AAP, JMM, AUDF and TDP.Back from the Mansarovar yatra, Rahul joined other leaders at Rajghat in the morning where he offered water from Mansarovar lake at Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi. He then walked from Rajghat to the petrol pump venue to launch the protest.A day after the BJP executive slammed rival parties for joining hands without any ideological common ground, the opposition's stress on a joint protest and political convergence against the government was highlighted by speakers.Laying out his case against BJP, Singh said, "Time for all parties to shed their issues and move forward unitedly... it is possible only when you keep aside your own small issues and be ready to save the unity, sovereignty and democracy in the country."