CWC commits to significant organisational reforms
BELAGAVI (Karnataka), Dec 26: The Congress party announced on Thursday plans for a significant overhaul of its organisation, focusing on leader accountability and fostering new leadership. Additionally, they introduced a campaign spanning 13 months aimed at addressing perceived insults to B.R. Ambedkar and concerns over constitutional integrity.
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The year-long ‘Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Pad Yatra’ will commence on January 26, 2025, and run through January 26, 2026, during which various issues such as the “Adani controversy”, assaults on the Constitution, rising inequalities, and inflation will be highlighted.
These resolutions were adopted during the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, titled ‘Nav Satyagraha Baithak’, in commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 100th year as party president during the Belgaum session.
Two key resolutions addressing Gandhi and a political agenda were passed by the CWC.
The Congress expressed that the Constitution is facing its “gravest threat yet”, citing Home Minister Amit Shah’s derogatory comments about B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament as a recent example of the BJP-RSS’s ongoing campaign to undermine the constitutional framework. The political resolution included a call for the home minister’s resignation and an official apology.
In his opening remarks, Kharge pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is unwilling to acknowledge Shah’s “highly offensive” remarks regarding Ambedkar, asserting that the party will continue its fight for respect towards the Constitution’s architect. He also highlighted perceived government interference in constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, expressing concerns over diminishing public faith in the electoral process.
“Concerns are being raised about the integrity of the Commission, with recent changes made to voting regulations hindering disclosure of court-ordered information. What are they trying to conceal?” Kharge questioned. He noted irregularities in voter lists and sudden surges in voter turnout during elections, indicating a lack of transparency and accountability.
Addressing the remarks made by Shah in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge condemned them as “deeply disrespectful” to the architect of the Constitution. He reported that protests are escalating nationally, lamenting that the government has failed to acknowledge its errors and has instead defended the objectionable statements.
Kharge stressed that 2025 will be pivotal for the party’s internal restructuring. “We will fill all vacant roles within the organisation and fully implement the Udaipur Declaration, ensuring our structure is equipped to win elections from AICC down to local booths,” he stated.
He further noted, “We will actively engage individuals committed to our ideological principles and willing to fight to defend the Constitution. We must reconnect with those who believe in the Congress vision for India and involve them in organizational activities.”
During a press briefing, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, announced that the initial phase of the ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ campaign will kick off with a rally in Belagavi on December 27, culminating on January 26, 2025, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar’s birthplace. Rallies and marches will also be held at the block, district, and state levels throughout this month.
The second phase will see the year-long ‘Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Pad Yatra’ addressing various socio-economic issues, starting on January 26, 2025. Ramesh linked this initiative to previous Congress campaigns, indicating that the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ revitalized the party and led to this forthcoming Pad Yatra that will traverse villages and towns throughout the nation.
Additionally, an AICC session is slated for early April 2025 in Gujarat. K.C. Venugopal, Congress general secretary in charge of organisation, emphasized that 2025 will be marked by a comprehensive organizational reform at all levels, grounded in leadership accountability and capacity assessment.
The CWC articulated its concern over the “degrading state of democracy,” mentioning that key institutions like the judiciary and media are being politicized amid executive pressure. It criticized the current government for undermining the constitutional federal structure, particularly through measures such as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill.
The CWC also condemned recent changes to the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, instituted on the Election Commission’s recommendation, which restrict public access to critical electoral documents, thus compromising the foundation of free and fair elections. The Congress has approached the Supreme Court regarding these amendments.
The integrity of the electoral process in regions like Haryana and Maharashtra has reportedly been tarnished. The CWC expressed alarm over the state-sponsored increase in communal and ethnic divisions, particularly targeting minority communities. The ongoing unrest in Manipur since May 2023 has been met with a lack of response from the Prime Minister, further heightening concerns regarding communal violence fueled for political gain by the RSS-BJP.
The resolution reaffirmed the Congress’s commitment to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, underscoring the necessity for a responsible discourse surrounding it. (PTI)
