In a sharply worded resolution passed in Ahmedabad, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of emulating the oppressive methods of British colonial rule. The resolution was adopted on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with the party drawing parallels between Patel’s leadership in the freedom struggle and its current ideological battle against the ruling regime.

Meeting on the banks of the Sabarmati, the CWC invoked the legacy of both Mahatma Gandhi and Patel, declaring that India now faces a fresh ideological crisis, where principles of justice, equality, and democracy are under threat. The resolution stated that the present political environment demands a renewed struggle inspired by Patel’s resistance to colonial authority.

The CWC criticised the BJP’s policies towards farmers, drawing direct comparisons with the exploitative tax policies of British rule. Patel, it noted, led the Kheda movement in 1918 and the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 to resist unjust taxation by the British. Similarly, the Congress alleged that the BJP had trampled on farmers’ rights through ordinances that diluted the Right to Fair Compensation, the introduction of “black laws” that aimed to corporatise agriculture, and violent suppression of farmers’ protests — most notably in Lakhimpur Kheri, where protesters were run over.

The resolution claimed that the BJP government had turned its back on promises such as guaranteed Minimum Support Prices and treated protesting farmers as enemies of the state. It vowed to follow in Patel’s footsteps to fight for the rights and dignity of India’s agrarian community.

Turning to issues of national integration, the CWC warned that the BJP was reversing the unity achieved by Patel through the merger of over 560 princely states. It accused the government of encouraging artificial divisions between north and south, and east and west, while promoting language-based and cultural segregation. The resolution asserted that such actions were intended to fracture India’s social fabric and weaken its pluralist ethos. Congress resolved to resist these divisive tactics by championing the call of “Shed Hatred, Unite India”.

The CWC also denounced the government’s treatment of workers and labourers, accusing it of undermining hard-won rights that were protected even during the early years of independent India. The resolution highlighted Patel’s role in the 1931 Karachi Congress session, where principles of equality and labour rights were enshrined. It said the BJP’s policies, including the weakening of MGNREGA and dilution of labour laws, were a betrayal of that legacy and reflected a broader disdain for constitutional guarantees.

In its economic critique, the CWC drew comparisons between colonial-era exploitation and the present regime’s economic model. It alleged that just as British rule had drained India’s wealth for the benefit of a few, the BJP was enabling a new cycle of wealth concentration by favouring crony capitalists. According to the resolution, Gujarat’s economic vibrancy had been undermined, and national resources redirected to enrich a select few. Congress pledged to revive the vision of economic justice championed by Patel — one grounded in fair distribution, equal opportunity, and inclusive development.

The resolution further warned of the growing threat posed by the ideology of violence and communal polarisation. It recalled how Patel had banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in February 1948 following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, acknowledging the dangers posed by extremist ideologies. The CWC said similar forces today were attempting to stoke religious hatred, destabilising national unity and pushing the country into a communal abyss.

It also condemned ongoing attempts to rewrite history and falsely portray conflict between Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru. The CWC cited Patel’s own letter to Nehru from August 1947 as proof of their camaraderie, describing their partnership as “unbreakable”. The resolution claimed that false narratives were being peddled to divide Indians and erase the legacy of collective leadership that defined the freedom struggle.

Reaffirming its commitment to constitutional democracy, social justice, and unity, the CWC concluded by declaring that the path of “Nyay” (justice) was the path of Sardar Patel. It stated that the most fitting tribute to Patel’s life would be to walk in his footsteps — defending the Constitution, fighting inequality, and countering hatred with unity.