Hinting at a possible retirement, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said on Saturday that she was happy she “could conclude her innings” with the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which she said has been a “turning point” for the party. Addressing 15,000 delegates on the second day of the Congress's plenary session at Raipur, she said the yatra has proved that the people of India want harmony, tolerance and equality.
The former party chief accused the BJP of "fuelling the fire of hatred" and "viciously targeting minorities, women, dalits and tribals".
This is a challenging time for Congress and the country as a whole, she said, adding that the BJP-RSS has “captured and subverted every single institution in the country”. “It has caused economic ruin by favouring a few businessmen," she said. She urged the Congress workers to tackle the current regime with vigour and reach out to people to convey the party's message.
Sonia said the Congress is not just a political party but it reflects the voices of people of all religions, castes and genders. She asserted that the party will fulfil the dreams of all of them.
She urged the Congress workers to achieve the goal of defeating the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Kharge also targeted the BJP in his address at the session in which he said there is a conspiracy to destroy democracy in India. He said his party looks forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties in order to get rid of the "anti-people" BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "In the prevailing difficult circumstances, the Congress is the only party in the country that can provide capable and decisive leadership," he added.
Political, economic and international affairs resolutions will be deliberated upon during the second day of the party's 85th plenary session Saturday. On the first day of the session on Friday, 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 Kharge-led steering committee meeting which members of the Gandhi family skipped.
-with PTI inputs
