Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi that her innings "could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra" possibly hinting at her retirement, while delivering her speech at the party's 85th plenary session today. "What gratifies me most, is that my innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Yatra has come as a turning point. It has proved that the people of India overwhelmingly want harmony, tolerance and equality," she said.
At the start of the second day of the three-day conclave, more than 6,000 kilograms of roses were used to decorate the road for about two km where folk artists wearing colourful traditional dresses were also seen performing on a long stage erected along the route to welcom Gandhi.
While delivering her address, she said that the BJP which is "fuelling fire of hatred", viciously targeted minorities, women, Dalits, tribals. Calling this a particularly challenging time for Congress and country, she said regime must be tackled with vigour.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party looks forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties to defeat the "anti people" BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He was addressing at the second day of the party's 85th plenary session.
The country is facing challenges such as continued assault on constitutional and democratic values, issues of national security at the border with China, all-time high inflation and record unemployment, Kharge said. "In the prevailing difficult circumstances, the Congress is the only party in the country that can provide capable and decisive leadership," he asserted.
From 2004 to 2014, the Congress-led alliance with like-minded parties served the people of the country, Kharge said. "We once again look forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties to defeat the anti-people and undemocratic BJP government," he said.
He launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, stating that the DNA of those sitting in Delhi is "anti-poor" as they are attempting to destroy democracy. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the one who calls himself "pradhan sevak" is serving the interests of his "friends", while also hitting out at the BJP-led Centre for steps such as demonetisation, GST rollout and a "continued assault on constitutional values".
The Congress steering committee which replaced the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the top decision-making body of the party, started discussions at the beginning of the 85th plenary session yesterday and approved the agenda for the three-day conclave, sources said.
What happened on the first day?
On the first day of the session, the Congress steering committee unanimously decided not to hold elections to the CWC and authorised the party chief to nominate its members. The decision was taken at the steering committee meeting which former presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi skipped. They arrived later in the day and attended the party's subjects committee's first meeting.
Earlier, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that on February 25, resolutions related to political, economic and international matters will be discussed and on February 26, resolutions related to agriculture and farmers welfare; social justice and empowerment; and youth, employment and education will be discussed.
(With inputs from PTI)
