All the roads leading to Belagavi in Karnataka have been illuminated and decorated with posters as the Congress party is all set to commemorate 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi presiding the only Congress session as party president in 1924.
The Congress will hold the two-day Congress Working Committee (CWC), named as ‘Nav Satyagrah Baithak’, here on Thursday and Friday to decide on the next one year plan of the party and then hold a mega rally on December 27.
The entire city has been decked up with the posters of several party leaders, highlighting the Congress 1924 session. It also highlights the roles of several senior leaders of the party in freedom struggle.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar, AICC state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala took stock of the preparations at the Veer Souda, where Mahatma Gandhi presided the meeting as Congress president in 1924.
Veer Souda, holds special significance for Congress as Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for Satyagrah, eradicating untouchability, Swaraj and communal harmony.
Speaking to the ITV Network, Siddaramaiah said, “Congress is holding its 2024 session to remember the 1924 Congress session. All the Congress leaders will be coming here for the meeting.”
The Chief Minister said it is a historical moment for Karnataka Congress as it has invited all the dignitaries of the party for the meeting.
Earlier in the day Shivakumar said that the mega public meeting to be held in Belagavi on December 27 is named as Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan convention.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief said, “We have declared this area as Mahatma Gandi Navanagara. The Congress Working Committee meeting would be held near Gandhi well. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress convention in 1924. It is a matter of pride that our own Mallikarjun Kharge is presiding over this convention. We are conducting this convention in the same 80-acre land which was the venue for the 1924 convention.”
“We have organized this event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1924 convention. It is not just a Congress party function but everyone’s programme. The CWC will discuss challenges facing the country. Leaders from across the country will take part in the convention,” Shivakumar said.
“We have collected the report of the 1924 convention and we will release a reprinted version tomorrow. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi would be unveiled at Veera Soudha at 10 am on December 26. Khadi mela would be inaugurated at 10:45 am. Chief Minister and I will inaugurate Sri Gangadhar Deshpande Memorial. A photo gallery of Gangadhar Deshpande will also be inaugurated. The CWC meeting would be held at 3 pm and AICC President will host a dinner for the guests at 7 pm,” he explained.
Sharing more details of the programme, the Congress leader said, “On December 27, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi would unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Suvarna Soudha at 10:30 am. The Chief Minister will be the Chairman and the programme will be held under the joint leadership of Speaker U T Khader and Council Chairman Basvaraj Horatti. All leaders cutting across party lines have been invited for the event. A mega public meeting will be held at 1 pm.”
“The people of the state, especially those in Kitturu Karnataka region, must witness the lighting. The Sevadal volunteers will escort CWC members through a padayatra where they will participate in the CWC meeting,” he said.
“Various programmes have been organized throughout the year as part of the 100th anniversary. We had organized Gandhi Walk on October 2 to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,” he added.
Asked if the incident of insult to Ambedkar would be discussed in the meeting, he said the event has been named ‘Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan convention’.
