The Congress on Tuesday said that it is set to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Karnataka’s Belgaum session, presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, with an extended session of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which has been named as ‘Nav Satyagrah Baithak’ to finalise its action plan for the coming year.
Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said, “This session is to commemorate the 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi elected as Congress president in Belgavi where extended CWC will take place.” Venugopal, who is also a Lok Sabha MP said that in December 1 924, which was the 39th Congress Session was held in Belgavi, the only session which Mahatma Gandhi presided.
He said that Mahatma Gandhi addressed the session and talked about removal of untouchability, non violence and other issues.The Congress leader asserted that the Belgaum session (Belgaum now known as Belgavi), became the bedrock of India’s freedom and for socio economic reforms.
“To commemorate the 100 years of session by Mahatma Gandhi we have named this extended CWC as ‘Nav Satyagrah Baithak’. The meeting will be held at the same venue where Mahatma Gandhi took over the presidentship of Congress. Karnataka Congress has made all the arrangements and city has been decorated,” Venugopal said, where he was also joined by Congress media department incharge Jairam Ramesh and media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera.
Meanwhile, RMesh said that it was from Belgavi Session only when Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for Satyagrah in 1924.
“All Congress delegation including the CWC members, secretaries, state unit chiefs among 200 leaders who will be attending the historic session,” Venugopal then said.
He also said that On December 26, ‘Nav Satyagrah baithak’ will start and on December 27, a massive public meeting titled ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhaan’ will be held there.
All AICC functionality with lakhs of workers will be participating in the rally, Venugopal added. “The meeting will discuss the action plan for Congress for next year and adopt two resolutions,” he said, adding, “The meeting will deliberate challenges under BJP rule, erosion of democracy, attack on institutions and others.”
“This is a historic session for us. Two years ago, we had held Chintan Shivir in Udaipur and from there.only Bharat Jodo Yatra was discussed and it started from Kanyakumari to Kashmir just three months later,” he added. Ramesh again said that Seva Dal was formed here in Belgaum only. Nehru was the first chairman of Seva Dal. When Mahatma Gandhi became the president of Congress, he had said that Nehru will remain as General Secretary. Nehru was made general secretary in 1923.
“Nehru has mentioned it in his autobiography that he became the semi permanent general secretary,” he added. To a question on insult of Dr BR Ambedkar by Union Home Minister and the BJP chief ministers will be holding press conferences across the country, Venugopal said, “BJP should seek resignation from Shah. They are only diverting the issue with the communal things… they will also continue with the same act of distracting. We asked for CCTV footage cameras, but a case was registered against Rahul Gandhi. BJP should answer this question raised by the country will Shah resign and tender apology.”
Ramesh also said that the Congress has been marking Ambedkar Samman Saptah against the ‘insult’ of Ambedkar by Shah.” He emphasised, “There is only one solution—that the home minister be sacked and must apologise for his remarks.”
