NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday mapped out its political strategy on a range of issues, including the Vande Mataram centenary celebrations, its ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ campaign against paper leaks, the “chanda chori” controversy linked to the Ram Temple and the “shuddhikaran” row in Uttarakhand, at a key Congress Working Committee meeting.The meeting, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at Indira Bhawan, brought together 88 leaders, including former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior party leaders and chief ministers.
‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ to expand to 800 cities
The Congress decided to expand its ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ campaign against paper leaks and issues concerning the education and examination system.Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the campaign would see more gatherings across 800 cities, with Rahul Gandhi expected to lead some of them.The party also discussed the protests over alleged paper leaks and the government’s response to them. Kharge has asked Congress chief ministers to consult education experts and prepare a roadmap for overhauling the education and examination system.“We are focused on three-four issues. Number one is paper leaks. The agitation done by the people of the country and the way the government dealt with that agitation was discussed. The CWC noted that the Monsoon Session of Parliament was successful for the Opposition and the government was on the back foot,” Venugopal said.
‘Chanda chori’ to be taken to villages, panchayats
The Ram Temple donations controversy also featured prominently in the Congress’s strategy discussions.Venugopal said the party would take the “chanda chori” issue to the grassroots, with Pradesh Congress Committees directed to raise it at the village and panchayat levels.“‘Chanda Chori’ is a serious area of concern among people of this country. It is an issue associated with the sentiments of people. Those who used Ram Mandir for polarising people now stand exposed,” he said.
PM Modi asked to apologise over ‘shuddhikaran’
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the “shuddhikaran” carried out in Uttarakhand following Kharge’s programme there.Ramesh, who was present at the press conference after the CWC meeting, raised the issue as part of the party’s broader political response to the incident.Vande Mataram also on Congress agendaThe party’s strategy discussions also included the issue of Vande Mataram and its centenary celebrations, adding a cultural and national theme to the issues discussed at the meeting.The CWC also discussed the situation along the India-China border. Venugopal said the alleged “Chinese incursion” in Arunachal Pradesh was raised during the meeting, with the Congress accusing the government of following a “surrender policy”.
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Women’s reservation
The Congress also reiterated its demand that women’s reservation be implemented based on the current strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats.The meeting was attended by senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik and P Chidambaram.Congress chief ministers A Revanth Reddy, VD Satheesan, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and DK Shivakumar also attended the meeting.
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