For the first time since its electoral setback in the general elections, the Congress seems to have gathered its political wits.
Starting Thursday, when party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy initiatives and programmes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Congress has organised a series of events to mark Jawaharlal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary.
The most crucial congregation, titled the Jawaharlal Nehru Commemorative International Conference, is scheduled for November 17-18. Every key political party except the BJP and its allies has been invited to this.
What’s more, on a personal invitation sent by Sonia herself, politicians across the spectrum including Trinamul Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, and representatives from the SP, BSP, DMK and AIADMK have agreed to attend the function.
Symbolically, this is the first gathering of socialists of all hues, communists, and splinter groups from the Congress such as TMC, on a Congress platform. Sharad Pawar, whose party NCP has helped the BJP to prove its majority in the Maharashtra Assembly, has expressed his inability to attend the function. The Congress describes it as an alignment of “secular” forces against an ascendant BJP.
Ahead of the function, both Sonia and Rahul launched a direct attack on Modi.
Basic tenetsSpeaking at a programme organised by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee here on Thursday, Sonia accused the BJP Government of deviating from the basic foundations of the country, such as secularism and brotherhood.
“Today, attempts are being made to change the basic tenets of the Nehruvian principles. Those who want to change these principles are attacking the vision and ideology of Nehru. He worked to build a secular, progressive and liberal India,” Sonia said. She urged Congress workers to fight all “such ideologies, institutions and individuals” who want to demolish Nehru’s principles.
Both the leaders admitted that the Congress is facing one of its most difficult periods. They asked the party cadre to put up a united fight against the communal forces.
Rahul said the Congress believes in love and brotherhood. “Today the very foundation of our country built on love and brotherhood is being weakened. This country is our home. On the one hand, the home is being spruced up. Roads are being cleaned. Everybody is getting a photo opportunity and on the other hand poison is being spread. The foundation (of this country) is being weakened,” he said.
He added that only the Congress can fight such tendencies. “Only love can overcome anger and hatred. And the only one organisation which believes in love and brotherhood and is inclusive is the Congress,” the party vice-president said.
“When the foundations get weakened, the nation’s enemies benefit from it. The more united we are, the faster the country will move forward,” he added.