Congress Working Committee on Tuesday, 12 March, passed a resolution during its meeting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to finalise its poll strategy, two days after the Election Commission announced dates of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The meeting that took place on the 89th anniversary of Dandi Satyagraha, stressed on Pulwama terror attack, unemployment, agrarian distress and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
It also blamed the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘insulting’ the struggles of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and others who led India’s fight for Independence.
1. Pulwama Attack: ‘Difference of Political Narrative Must Not Be Mistaken As Country’s Weakness Or Disunity’
Condemning the Pulwama attack, the CWC made it clear that dissent and articulation of ideological differences are integral to political narrative, especially during elections, but these must not be mistaken as weakness or disunity of the country.
“The CWC sends a stern and unequivocal message to India's enemies that India stands united and resolute as one nation to confront and defeat their nefarious agenda. India is a resilient democracy, proud of its brave armed forces. It shall never be defeated by forces of violence and terror,” CWC’s resolution stated.
However, it blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for exploiting the issue of National Security in order to divert attention from “his colossal failures, bogus claims and persistent falsehoods”.
2. Demonetisation, GST: ‘Modi Government’s Reckless Decisions’
The CWC blamed Modi government’s decisions of Demonetisation and GST for India’s unemployment situation.
“Five years of Modi-BJP Government has been a period of false promises and betrayal of people’s trust and confidence. This government has been a failure on all fronts and has inflicted pain and misery on the people through its reckless decisions of demonetisation and hasty imposition of a flawed GST. These disrupted the Indian economy, and trade and industry.”
3. Unemployment: ‘Millions Lost Jobs to Govt Policies’
Blaming the policies of the current government, CWC said “lakhs of factories were closed, unorganised sector, micro, small and medium enterprises were worst affected and tens of millions of workers lost their jobs and livelihood.”
4. Agrarian Crisis: ‘Issues of Grave National Concern’
CWC accused the BJP of not managing the Indian economy appropriately.
“The unprecedented joblessness, agrarian crisis and distress of Kisans and Khet mazdoors are issues of grave national concern. The Modi Government is guilty of monumental mismanagement of the Indian economy,” the resolution read.
5. India’s NPA Problem
The resolution stressed on the current banking situation.
“National savings and investments have sharply declined, banks are burdened with NPAs, and credit off-take of the industry has reached a record low. Exports are stagnant and industrial production has been falling continuously notwithstanding the government's boastful and misleading claims.”
6. ‘Subversion of All Institutions of Governance’
Criticising five years of the BJP, CWC stated, “An atmosphere of fear and insecurity is all pervasive particularly among women, students, academics, writers and the business community; there are deliberate attacks on the Constitutional and other safeguards for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and minorities; and there is subversion of all institutions of governance.”
7. ‘All Democratic, Progressive Forces Should Fight Against BJP’s Anti-People Policies’
The party during its meeting urged all democratic and progressive forces to unite and relentlessly fight and expose the anti-people policies of the BJP government.
It also blamed the BJP for deflecting from real issues of concern.
8. ‘Commitment to Serve India and Its People’
“This meeting of the CWC reaffirms its commitment to serve India and its people in our endeavour for inclusive growth and shared prosperity,” the meeting established.
“CWC assures the people that the Congress Party believes in what it promises and has proven its credibility on delivering the same.”
The resolution stressed on Congress’ promise of loan waiver in the state of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after the recent Assembly elections.
“In the run up to the recent Assembly elections in the state of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Congress President had promised a loan waiver to the farmers. The recently formed Congress governments in these states honoured this promise by waiving the farmer’s loans.”
9. ‘Mandate For Better Governance And Accountability’
“The Congress Party will approach the people of India with humility to seek their support in the forthcoming elections for itself and its allies in different States.”
Congress also said they would come up with a “mandate for better governance and accountability, to repair the grave damage caused to our democratic polity, economy and society by the Modi Government, a mandate for change to restore the health of Indian economy, for job creation, social justice and harmony.”
10. ‘Minimum Income Support to Poor, Weak and Marginalised’
The CWC endorsed the promises made by the Congress President to ensure minimum income support to the poor, weak and marginalised sections of society when the Congress party comes to power.
“Congress Party is committed to ensure that benefits of economic growth flow to all sections of our people and all regions of the country; institutions that uphold Indian democracy are protected and strengthened, and the fundamental rights of all citizens of India are respected.”
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