In a powerful message delivered at the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Belagavi on Thursday, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi highlighted the enduring inspiration drawn from Mahatma Gandhi while issuing a clarion call to protect his legacy against threats posed by ideologies in power today.
The meeting, titled Nava Satyagraha Baithak, marks the centenary of the historic 39th session of the Indian National Congress, where Mahatma Gandhi assumed the role of Congress president, a pivotal moment in India’s struggle for independence.
Unable to attend the event in person, Sonia Gandhi’s message was read out to the gathering of party leaders and members. She described the Congress session held in Belagavi a century ago as a “transformational milestone in our country’s history” and urged all members to recommit themselves to the Gandhian values of truth, non-violence, and justice.
A Legacy Under Assault
Sonia Gandhi expressed deep concern over what she described as a systematic assault on Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy by those currently in power in New Delhi and the ideologies that shaped them.
“It was he who moulded and guided the remarkable galaxy of leaders of that generation. His legacy is under threat from those in power in Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them,” her statement read.
In a sharp critique of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates, Sonia Gandhi accused these forces of creating a divisive and “toxic atmosphere” that ultimately led to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. “These organisations never fought for our freedom. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi bitterly. They glorify his killers,” she alleged.
Call for a Renewed Fight
The CPP chairperson called on Congress members to rise to the challenge of confronting these forces with unwavering resolve. “It is now our sacred duty to renew our resolve to confront these forces with all the might at our command and with uncompromising determination,” she emphasized.
She also lamented the attacks on Gandhian institutions across the nation and reaffirmed the Congress Party’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and values.
Strengthening the Congress
Sonia Gandhi used the occasion to stress the need for introspection and the strengthening of party structures to meet current challenges. She called on leaders to embrace the party’s history of resilience and move forward with renewed purpose.
“Our great organization with such a glorious history has, time and again, demonstrated its resilience. Let us individually and collectively move forward from this meeting firm in our resolve to meet the many challenges our party faces with a renewed sense of urgency and a refreshed sense of purpose,” she urged.
A Historic Venue
The meeting held at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar in Belagavi resonates deeply with the party’s legacy. Reflecting on the significance of the venue, Sonia Gandhi noted, “The 39th session of the Indian National Congress was held exactly a hundred years ago at this very location. It is, therefore, only appropriate that you are assembled here today.”
As the Congress Party grapples with contemporary political challenges, Sonia Gandhi’s impassioned words serve as a rallying cry for members to uphold the enduring values of Mahatma Gandhi and carry forward the struggle for justice and unity in the face of adversity.
