The Congress on Saturday will unveil party’s political roadmap and vision for the next five years at its 84th plenary session in New Delhi.
The meeting is being attended by the party’s top leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party chief Sonia Gandhi, its bureaucrats from across the country and workers. The party is hoping that around 15,000 party members will attend the two-day open session, beginning Saturday.
The session is attended by foreign delegates from African National Congress South Africa, Awami League Bangladesh, Nepali Congress, Union Nationalist Party, Sri Lanka.
'In the last four years, an arrogant government has left no stone unturned to destroy the Congress'
Former Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi addresses the audience. "Rahul (Gandhi) has accepted this responsibility in very challenging times. We must work together and not stand on our egos. Today only one thing matters: how do we strengthen this great party and be victorious.
The party's win will be the country's win. It isn't just a political party but a movement. The entire Indian tradition is mirrored in the Congress party. Let the Congress be the party that reflects the diversity of our country and aspirations of all Indians."
In reference to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, she says: "Indira Gandhi's victory in Chikmagulur changed the course of politics. I am sure we can do this again with Karnataka elections."
Sonia Gandhi speaks at the Congress party's 84th plenary session in New Delhi
"Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh elections are coming as well. Those who were out to finish the Congress found out in Gujarat elections how much respect people have for the Congress. In 1998, during Panchmarhi deliberations, there was an agreement that Congress shouldn't work with other parties. But in 2002 Chintan Shivir of Shimla, we had decided to work with like-minded parties. That's why achieved what many thought would be impossible to achieve.
"Dr. Manmohan Singh performed so well, on so many fronts. In the last fours years, an arrogant government has left no stone unturned to destroy the Congress. They filed false cases against Opponents and threatened the media. Statements like na khaaonga na khane doonga was only dramabaazi to usurp power.
"Congress has contributed the most towards nation building. As we start a new innings we also have a very tough challenge. Congress believes in partisan-free India. Congress believes in revenge-free India. Congress believes in arrogance-free India."
'Proliferation of fake news is a major challenge facing social media today'
Divya Spandana, the head of the Congress party's social media unit, speaks at a panel discussion titled "The Power of Truth".
"Social media platforms are an effective way of disseminating the truth into the public domain. The proliferation of fake news is a major challenge facing social media today, but truth has its own way of coming out," says Ms. Spandana.
"Our responsibility is to put the truth out into public rather than controlling the narrative. This is important because there should always be space for dissent & we should be able to listen to the idea of India."
Rajeev Gowda, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, says: "There are entities out there who perpetrate fake news. Even though there are many courageous truthful voices to counter the avalanche of fake news, we have also witnessed attempts towards intimidating them."
Journalist Mrinal Pande: "To propagate the truth, Mahatma Gandhi used crowd-funding to publish his newspaper Navajivan . It is crucial that independent media houses achieve financial independence in order to resist oppression."
'Free press is being subjugated'
The political resolution calls upon the media to restore the balance in national narrative to safeguard democracy.
Subjugation of free press through the misuse of power and resources of the Government, intimidation, economic discrimination and co-option is the new order, it says.
Congress adopts the political resolution unanimously.
Revert to paper ballot, Congress says in the political resolution
The Congress resolves to adopt a “pragmatic approach” for cooperation with all like-minded parties and evolve a common workable programme to defeat the BJP-RSS in the 2019 general election.
The political resolution calls for reverting to the old practice of paper ballot as adopted by other major democracies to help restore the credibility of the electoral process. This, it says, was necessary as there were misgivings on misuse of EVMs to manipulate the outcome contrary to popular verdict .
In the resolution, Congress asks the government to pass Women's Reservation bill before 2019 elections.
It also says that BJP’s move of simultaneous elections is misplaced and is incompatible with the Constitution. It will have serious implications, which must be thoroughly enquired into, and a national consensus built, it adds.
The party strongly advocates debarring defectors from contesting elections for six years to check misuse of money and political instability. Referring to the ongoing Andhra Pradesh issue, the resolution says that the party is committed to giving special category status to the State.
Revolution will not come silently: Sachin Pilot
Rajasthan's Congress chief Sachin Pilot begins his speech by saying that the responsibility to leave a better party for the future generation is not Mr. Gandhi's alone, but of every party member.
We will have to work day and night to realize Mr. Gandhi's dream. Revolution will not come by sitting silently, we have to sweat it out. Let's take an oath to work hard to defeat BJP in every nook and corner of India and reclaim our country from their hands.
Overview of the Congress plenary in Delhi
BJP and Modi should do what they preach: Mahila Congress leader Sushmita Dev
Sushmita Dev, president of All India Mahila Congress says: BJP speaks about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and yet, they refuse to pass the Bill for women's reservation in the Parliament. Why is this? Sonia Gandhi wrote to Mr. Modi on September 20, 2017 extending full support on behalf of the Congress to passing this Bill. And yet, BJP refuses to do that. Then why these empty words?
In my opinion, Ms. Dev says, young girls have become more unemployable after the passing of paid maternity leave. Now companies will think twice before hiring young women because they will have to pay the women during maternity leave. In other countries, there is a provision for grants to companies giving paid leave, but our current govt has passed half-baked laws, furthering the vulnerability of women.
Rahul Gandhi will become PM in 2019: Raja Brar
National president of Youth Congress Mr. Raja Brar speaks - failure is an opportunity, learn from it. Do not run away from failure, there is no glory without hardwork.
BJP wants to divide this nation in the name of religion, caste, creed and gender. They are destroying the statues of our beloved leaders like Babaseb Ambedkar and many others. BJP promised crores of jobs, what have we got? Making pakoras is what they recommend the jobless do. Is this the kind of jobs we need? asks Mr. Brar.
Congress will come into power in 2019, our leader Rahul Gandhi will become the PM and put an end to this ineffective government.
Challenge the BJP: Mallikarjun Kharge
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar reads out a resolution to thank former party chief Sonia Gandhi for her contribution and leading the party amidst challenges. Resolution is passed with a show of hand by delegates.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh and others pass a resolution by a show of hand.
INC Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge presents the political resolution in Hindi. I am from South India, so I have worked a lot to talk in Hindi. If there are any mistakes, please forgive me, he says.
BJP keeps asking what the Congress did and everyone keeps quiet, says Mr. Kharge. Why should we be silent? We should stand up proudly and say Congress has given everything for our country. Indira Gandhi gave up her life for this country as did Rajiv Gandhi. They were brutally assassinated for working for the betterment of India.
Challenge the BJP, he says. Engage with them. Only then will change come about. Earlier, BJP offices did not even have a photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, but now they keep bringing him up in every conversation for political gains.
Our job is to unite: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President takes stage for the inaugural address and welcomes all to the function.
Today anger is being spread in the country and people are being divided, begins Mr. Gandhi. Our job is to unite and 'hand' is the only symbol that can do it. It is up to the representatives of this symbol to do it. I want to thank Dr. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Amarinder Singh, P. Chidamabaram and all senior leaders who protected this symbol.
This Plenary is about the future, but in our tradition, we can not go forward without the experience. When the youth look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they can’t see the way forward. Congress is the only party which will take country forward.
Congress will move forward with the support of party veterans and the youth. My job is to take them together. The big difference between us and BJP is that we spread love and they spread hatred, he says echoing his statement from his first speech as the Congress party president.
Dr. Manmohan Singh at Congress plenary in Delhi
Rahul and Sonia Gandhi arrive
The “Change is Now” conclave starts off with party resident Rahul Gandhi hoisting the flag. It is noted that contrary to normal practice, no one is seated on the dias - only the speech is conducted from the dias.
Mr. Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi arrives at the venue in a procession. Attendees include former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and MP Ambika Soni.
Congress welcomes foreign delegates of the African National Congress, South Africa, the Awami League, Bangladesh, the Nepali Congress and the Union Nationalist Party, Sri Lanka. There are also delegates from China, Palestine, Mozambique and Ghana.
Rahul Gandhi's first plenary
This is the party president Rahul Gandhi's first plenary since he took over the reigns of the party from his mother Sonia Gandhi on December 16, 2017.
Mr. Gandhi will present the Congress vision document and the political road map for the party and the document will act as a “guiding light” to help party workers upstage the BJP from power at the Centre in 2019, besides in some states.
