UPA chairperson and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has advised party leaders to avoid making statements that could bring ill fame to the Congress’ interests. The comments came during a session of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad for its second day on Sunday.
The Congress has recently released a list of certain television news anchors and shows that will be boycotted by their party’s representatives.
During the CWC meeting in Hyderabad, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the leaders and party members at every level to engage with citizens regularly and attentively. The party aims to establish strong grassroots connections as it prepares itself for the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Kharge told the leaders present at the meeting, “This is not the time for us to rest. In the past 10 years under the BJP’s rule, the challenges faced by ordinary people have multiplied. The Prime Minister refuses to address the concerns of the poor, farmers, labourers, women, and youth; instead, he cannot look beyond himself.”
Attacking the BJP government, Kharge also accused them of playing politics by distracting people from key issues and bringing up unnecessary ones.
“We must work tirelessly, putting aside personal interests. We must prioritise the success of the party, putting aside our personal differences… Only through unity and discipline we can defeat our adversaries. This was evident in Karnataka, where we remained united and fought with discipline to achieve success,” Kharge said in a statement.
“In such challenging circumstances, we cannot afford to be passive spectators. Our imperative is to unite and challenge this perceived authoritarian government, safeguarding our democratic values.” he asserted.
Kharge also emphasised that the Congress must be well prepared in case of possible assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharing some excerpts from the remarks made during the Extended Congress Working Committee Meeting on social media platform X, Kharge said:
“We are all aware of the challenges that lie ahead. These challenges aren’t just those of the Congress Party; they concern the survival of Indian Democracy and the preservation of the Constitution of India.
The Congress-led governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have pioneered a new model of Social Justice and Welfarism. We must publicize these welfare schemes across country.
Likewise, organizational unity is of utmost importance. Only through unity and discipline can we defeat our adversaries. This was evident in Karnataka, where we remained united and fought with discipline to achieve success.
2024 also marks the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s election as the Congress President. The most fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ji would be to oust the BJP from power in 2024.”
Responding to these developments, BJP president JP Nadda criticised the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), accusing it of a history of corruption scandals. Home Minister Amit Shah further censured the INDIA coalition, alleging the disrespect of “Sanatana Dharma,” and asserting that the Congress-led coalition relaunched itself from “UPA” due to its association with “Rs 12 lakh crore scams.”