Full Text: Resolution Of The Congress Working Committee In Its Meeting At Hyderabad

Congress held the meeting of its newly constituted Working Committee, the top most executive body of the party today in Hyderabad and will continue tomorrow with participation from party’s state leaders. The meeting is being attended by senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Karge, Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Ashok Gehlot, Priyanka Gandhi and many others.

The CWC meeting passed the following resolutions that covers various issues including terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Bharat Jodo Yatra anniversary, China’s incursions into India-held territory, price rise, unemployment, farmer issues and challenges to the Constitution.

Full Text: Resolution Of The Congress Working Committee In Its Meeting At Hyderabad

1. At the very outset, the Congress Working Committee extends its deepest sympathies to the families of our brave army and police officers and personnel who have been martyred in Jammu & Kashmir. It is inexcusable and an insult to their sacrifice that while this tragedy was unfolding and the nation mourning, the BJP and the Prime Minister were indulging in a celebratory extravaganza in the national capital congratulating themselves on G20.
2. The CWC wishes to place on record its deepest appreciation of Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge-ji’s contributions as Congress President over the past year. He has been an inspirational leader and an uncompromising voice for social justice and empowerment, and for his efforts to preserve and protect the country’s Constitution from the assaults of the Modi Government. He has been fearlessly and relentlessly holding the Prime Minister to account for his anti-people priorities, policies and programmes.
3. The CWC also proudly celebrates the first anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi—a transformational  moment in the nation’s politics—to unite the people against the forces that are dividing India; to raise the voices of the people against growing inequality, falling incomes, rising youth unemployment and the sky-high prices of essential commodities;  and to resist the growing authoritarianism, the capture of democratic institutions and the attack on our federal structure. The CWC resolves that our party organisation at all levels   will continue to take forward the spirit, sentiment and purpose of the Bharat Jodo Yatra  and keep it alive in  every part of our country. The CWC also notes that it is abundantly clear that the disqualification of Shri. Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament was an act of political vendetta by the Prime Minister, and expresses deep satisfaction in his restoration to the position as truth and justice has triumphed.
4. The CWC expresses its deep anguish on the total breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in Manipur and the continuing violence. After more than four months, the state is bitterly divided due to the BJP’s polarisation agenda. The silence and neglect of the Prime Minister, the failure of the Home Minister and the intransigence of the Chief Minister have led to an unprecedented situation where there are repeated clashes between the security forces and civilians and between the Army/Assam Rifles and the state police force. The sparks from Manipur are now threatening to spread to the wider North-Eastern region. The CWC reiterates the demand of the Congress party for the immediate removal of the Chief Minister and imposition of President’s Rule. The CWC also urges that all possible steps be taken to recover looted arms and ammunition, restore public order, alleviate the humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of besieged people and internal refugees, and establish a framework for dialogue among different groups of the people.
5. The CWC wishes to recall that, in his first Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister had called for a 10-year moratorium on casteism, communalism and regionalism. Ironically, the three evils have aggravated in the last nine years thanks to the divisive and discriminatory policies adopted by the Prime Minister, his government and his party. He has not acted against the those who committed atrocities against the poor and vulnerable people, especially women, minorities, Dalits and Adivasis. The political discourse of the BJP, inside and outside Parliament, is laced with poison, promotes hate speech and violence, encourages divisive forces, and polarises society. The BJP’s leaders and spokespersons have belittled and distorted the contributions of past prime ministers, especially Jawaharlal Nehru. Investigating agencies have been misused to target political leaders and carry on a political vendetta against them. The BJP government has practically destroyed the principles and practices of cooperative federalism.
6. The CWC reminds the Modi government of the commitments it made to the farmers and farmers’ organizations on the issue of MSP and other demands. Farmers are burdened with growing debt. Agriculture and the rural economy are in deep distress. MSMEs are languishing since the blow of Demonetisation and due to the lack of support from the government. Export markets have shrunk and exports have declined. The engines of investment and consumption are sluggish and have failed to revive the economy. The economic outlook remains bleak.  The sole concern of the government seems to be headline management.
7. The CWC expresses its grave concern at increasing unemployment and continuous rise in prices, especially of essential commodities. The Prime Minister’s so-called Rozgar Melas are a hoax to cover up the abject failure to create, as promised, two crore jobs a year. The failure to conduct the decennial Census, due in 2021, is  a national and an international shame. One of the consequences is that an estimated 14 crore of the poorest Indians are denied their entitlement to food rations since ration cards are issued on the basis of the 2011 Census. The CWC also underlines the stubborn refusal of the Modi government to conduct a Caste Census This  refusal in the face of a universal demand has exposed the BJP’s lack of commitment to social and economic justice and its bias against the backward classes, Dalits and tribal people. In this context, the CWC also calls for increasing the existing upper limit of reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs.
8. The CWC summarily rejects the call for a new Constitution and the mischievous argument that the basic structure of the Constitution can be changed. The Modi government’s assault on the Constitution must be condemned and resisted by all democratic forces to safeguard the foundational ideas of the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and his compatriots. The Constitution reflects the values of the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.  The CWC also calls out the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Modi government which showcases to the world the symbolism of Mahatma Gandhi  while giving a free hand to those who defame him and defile his legacy.
9. Parliamentary debate and scrutiny have all but disappeared and far-reaching legislation is hurriedly pushed through without proper scrutiny and discussion. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment etc) Bill introduced in Parliament will severely compromise the independence of the Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections. A special Session of Parliament is called all of a sudden. The Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Smt. Sonia Gandhiji wrote to the Prime Minister identifying nine pressing issues of public concern and importance that need to be debated in this special session. The CWC thanks her for this initiative and also for the continuing interest she is taking in the strengthening of the party organisation. The CWC also dcmands that the Women’s Reservation Bill be passed during the special session.
10. The CWC reiterates its demand for a JPC into the startling revelations that have been made and continue to be made on the transactions of the Adani business group that has been the prime beneficiary of the Prime Minister’s close friendship and the government’s biased policies and administrative largesse.
11. The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is yet another brazen attack on the federal structure of the country. The Modi government has systematically undermined federalism through overriding legislation, reduction in the States’ share of tax revenues, misuse of the office of Governor, creating roadblocks in implementing schemes and programmes in Opposition-governed states (like it has happened in regard to the food security guarantee in Karnataka), and denying emergency funds and disaster relief to states (like Himachal Pradesh that has been hit by floods and landslides).
12. The CWC unequivocally condemns the incursions by China into Indian-held territory and the repeated provocations such as publishing maps that include Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of India. Most unfortunately, the Prime Minister’s clean chit to China on 19th June, 2020 and his continued refusal to admit the loss of territory have misled the country, belittled the sacrifices of our jawans, and emboldened China to continue with its transgressions. The CWC calls upon the government to come clean on the border dispute with China and take a resolute stand against any challenge to the territorial integrity of India.
13. The CWC stands with the people of our country for communal harmony, social and economic fraternity, the fulfilment of the aspirations of youth, and for a strong, proud and respected nation enjoying an honoured place in the international community. The CWC pledges to restore a nation of which every Indian, irrespective of caste or religion, whether rich or poor, young or old, can be proud.
14. Finally, the CWC wholeheartedly welcomes the continuing consolidation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). This has already rattled the Prime Minister and the BJP. The CWC reiterates the Congress party’s resolve to make the INDIA initiative an ideological and electoral success so that our country is freed from divisive and polarising politics, the forces of social equity and justice are strengthened, and the people get a Union Government that is responsible, responsive, sensitive, transparent and accountable.