BJP can steal Gandhi's stick, specs cannot follow his ideals

Ahmedabad: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge blasted the Bharatiya Janata Party for inflicting the country with the double whammy of communal division and oligarchic monopoly.

He also ridiculed the BJP for trying to hijack the great and glorious legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “They may be able to steal Gandhi's stick and specs, but they cannot follow his ideals”, he remarked about the BJP and the RSS.

100 years of Gandhi taking over as president

In his opening remarks at the extended CWC meeting here today, Kharge said, this year marks 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s taking over as the Congress president in December 1924 during the Belgaum session. Besides, he added, this year also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, which falls on October 31.

He said Gujarat has special importance for the Congress as three great leaders of the party, Dadabhai Naoroji, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, were born here and all the three served as Congress presidents from time to time.

Contribution of Sardar Patel

Recalling the contribution of Sardar Patel, he said, like Gandhi organized Champaran Satyagraha, Patel organized Bardoli Satyagraha during the freedom struggle.

Besides, he added, Patel served as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly’s ‘Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas’.

Taking a dig at the BJP for trying to spread lies about Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Sardar Patel’s relationship, the Congress president said, since the party (the BJP) does not have anything to say about its contribution towards the freedom struggle, it is now trying to invent lies about Patel and Nehru. “The actual reality is that they (Nehru and Patel) were the two sides of the same coin”, he remarked.

Taking a dig at the BJP’s attempt to hijack Patel’s legacy, he said, he (Patel) was completely against the ideology of the RSS and had also banned it.

Ambedkar as chairman

He said, Gandhi and Patel made immense contributions to nominating Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India.

He pointed out that when the constitution was drafted, the RSS opposed it and its supporters burnt the effigies of all those leaders who were involved with the drafting of the Constitution, as they (the RSS supporters) were agitated that the Constitution did not take inspiration from the Manu Samriti.

Asserting that Sardar Patel was in the heart of every Congressman, Kharge said that is the reason that today’s meeting was being held at Sardar Patel Memorial.

He also observed that now the BJP and the RSS were trying to grab the Gandhian institutions and handing these over to those who were ideologically against him.

Congress ideology of unity

Kharge said, the real strength of the Congress lies in its ideology of belief in the unity and integrity of the country and social justice. He said, this is the real strength of the Congress. He said, at the same time, it was important to strengthen the organization.

Later briefing reporters, Congress general secretary organization KC Venugopal, general secretary communication Jairam Ramesh and Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said that the meeting of the Extended CWC was attended, among others, by the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, CWC members, permanent and special invitees, Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers, PCC presidents, CLP leaders and CEC members and Deputy Chief Ministers from different states.

Venugopal said, this was a historic moment in the Congress party’s journey as the AICC Session coincided with the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as the Congress president and also Sardar Patel’s 150th anniversary falling this year.

He said, the Congress had a deep historic association with Gujarat as seeds of freedom struggle were nurtured here. The first AICC session was held in Gujarat in 1902, and today it is the sixth AICC session in the state.

Resolution of Congress

He said, the Extended CWC passed a resolution that our party will walk on the path shown to us by Sardar Patel. He stood up against the oppression of the British, fighting for the rights of workers and farmers, he said about Patel, adding, he rejected communal forces and banned RSS after Bapu’s assassination. He fought for an India where everyone had fundamental rights and freedom.

“Today, as we embark on the path of social justice, our Nyay Path follows the same principles laid down by Sardar Patel”, Congress General Secretary added.

Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the BJP and the RSS for trying to spread lies about the relationship between Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel.