On the first day of the meeting of the newly-formed Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad, one of the focus areas was the security threats faced by the country, both internally and externally.
In his opening remarks at the CWC meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The entire nation is witnessing the tragic events still unfolding in Manipur. Modi government allowed the fire of Manipur to reach Nuh in Haryana. These incidents tarnish the image of modern, progressive, and secular India.”
The Congress also blamed the NDA government for their Kashmir and China policy. Speaking to media persons, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram made reference to the ongoing encounter in Kashmir valley in which a few soldiers were killed. Talking about China’s alleged encroachment of Indian land, he said, “They are changing our borders. They are standing firm in their positions. The Chinese haven’t retreated an inch. We are losing territory and the Chinese are commanding the territory.”
The CWC passed a set of resolutions that were related to the internal security, economy and political situation of the country. Chidamabaram said the resolutions were drafted keeping in mind the rising inflation and unemployment and also the “challenges” to the federal structure and Constitution of the country. The INDIA alliance was another topic that was discussed with some members stressing on expediting the seat-sharing process.
The CWC demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi declare Himachal Pradesh floods as national disaster and extend financial help to the state.
The CWC meeting began at Taj Krishna in Banjara Hills with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hoisting the Congress flag at the venue. Present at the meeting were former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The other attendees included Priyanka Gandhi, permanent members of CWC, and special invitees.
On the second day of the three-day event, an 'extended' CWC meeting will be held, which will be attended by 147 members, including all PCC state presidents and CLP leaders. In the meeting, election strategies for five poll-bound states and organisational issues will discussed. In the evening, a public meeting under the banner 'Vijayabheri' will be held in Thukkuguda, on the outskirts of Hyderabad as a precursor to the election campaign. The state along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh will go for polls later this year. The public meeting venue has been named after Rajiv Gandhi.
At the meeting, six ‘guarantees’ will be unveiled by Sonia Gandhi which would be implemented in Telangana within one month of coming to power. The date of the meeting is significant, as September 17 was the day when the Hyderabad state, ruled by the Nizam, merged with the Republic of India. Political parties celebrate the day as Integration or Merger Day depending on their political stance.
On the final day, on September 18, leaders will campaign in 115 assembly constituencies and release ‘chargesheet’ against the BRS government.
There was an important addition to the party as well. Former BRS minister and senior leader Tummala Nageshwara Rao joined the party in the presence of Kharge on Saturday.
The ruling party, BRS, tried to eclipse the CWC meeting in their own style. Supporters of the party allegedly put up posters across the city. While one set of posters had the heading ‘Corrupt Working Committee’ with images of Congress leaders who faced charges or cases of corruption, another poster spoke about unfulfilled promises and wrong policy decisions of the party. Not stopping at that, the BRS also held a public meeting in Nagarkurnool where Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao addressed a large gathering after inaugurating a key irrigation project.
