On February 24, more than 15,000 Congress workers gathered at Raipur, Capital of Chhattisgarh, for the 85th Congress plenary session. The three-day conclave is expected to deliberate upon political, economic and international affairs resolutions.
RESOLUTIONS
In its political resolution, the Congress made a bid to align with like-minded political parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The resolution said, “Unity of secular and socialist forces will be the hallmark of the future of the Congress party. The Congress should go all out to identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular forces.” Apart from, the resolution also promised new laws against hate crimes and religious discrimination, a national election fund instead of the “fatally flawed and fully corrupt” electoral bonds, and steps to tighten the anti-defection law to stop mass exodus of lawmakers.
In its economic resolutions, the party said it was against “government-facilitated” private monopolies. The Congress said that it was against such monopolies as they were against public interest. The Congress stressed that it was against individuals accused of corruption and having objectionable relations with tax havens monopolising the country’s national resources, it said.
Apart from this, the party also demanded a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue.
CONGRESS PRESIDENT MALLIKARJUN KHARGE
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party was once again looking forward to aligning with like-minded parties to defeat the BJP. Launching a scathing attack on BJP, he alleged conspiracy by BJP to disrupt the country’s democracy. He stressed that party was ready to make sacrifices and will unite India.
The President also said that the party aimed at generating employment for crores of people through MSMEs, control rising inflation, bridge the gap between the rich and poor, and ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produces. He also alleged that the DNA of those in power in Delhi is anti-poor as they are attacking them.
He stated that the party’s endeavour was to change governments with people’s votes, not through money bags or help from ED, CBI, or the Income-Tax Department.
SONIA GANDHI
Speaking on the occasion, former party president Sonia Gandhi said that time was challenging for Congress and the country as a whole. She alleged that BJP-RSS has captured and subverted every single institution in the country. It has caused economic ruin by favouring a few businessmen, she alleged.
CWC
On the first day of the session, the Congress steering committee decided not to hold elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body and authorised the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to choose new members. There was some split among party members regarding the CWC elections.
CENSUS
Kharge is reported to have stressed in the subjects committee of the party on the need for caste census as a tool for social justice and empowerment. He is known to have questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the latest census that was scheduled in 2021.
