Rahul Gandhi: “I want to say one thing to Congress workers- this fight is all our fight, we are all involved in this fight, I am with you.”
The Congress strategy meeting (Chintan Shivir) in Rajasthan’s Udaipur left the Congress workers feeling rejuvenated and strengthened with plans for a new strategy. Rahul Gandhi announced a Padyatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari which left party members feeling exhilarated, calling it a historical move.
Contents of Rahul Gandhi’s Speech
Addressing the three-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi, former Congress President started by saying that this kind of open discussion in receiving suggestions and criticism, as Congress was having, has never been held in any other party especially BJP-RSS as they muzzle institutions. Views were passionately debated and amicable solutions were found.
Rahul Gandhi said, “I have never been corrupt haven’t taken any money and I am not scared and will fight. We are fighting the ideology of hatred and violence.”
He admitted that the Congress party’s connection with the people has broken and it needed to be re-established by standing with the people instead of focussing on internal matters.
He said, “It is a complaint. Our entire discussion, all talks are about our internal matters…who is getting which post. Our focus is internal. In today’s time, this internal focus will not work, our focus should be external.”
Mr. Gandhi declared that there were “no shortcuts” to re-establishing the connection with the people except to fight for and stand with the people.
He asserted that only the Congress could take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in an ideological fight and not any regional party even though regional players had their space. He stressed that Congress needed to transform its style of communication but not its ideology.
He said he never wanted to do away with the older Congress members but wanted to inculcate newly empowered youth and said, “there should be a healthy mix of youngsters and seniors”.
The Congress leader also called for a massive reform of the party’s communication strategy to reach out to the youth in a better way.
“The 21st century is about communication. And that is one area where our opponents outdo us… They have much more money and are better at communication. So, we must think about communication…completely reform our systems and communicate with the people of India, with the youngsters in a new way,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi said his fight was with the ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which, he alleged, was dangerous for the country.
“The hatred that they spread, the violence that they spread, I fight that. This is the fight of my life. I am not willing to believe that in our beloved country such hatred and anger can spread,” he said.
“…I say this with full responsibility, the only alternative to a conversation between the people of India is violence between the people of India. You can either choose to have a conversation between the people of India or then you can choose to have violence between the people of India,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Sachin Pilot calls party leaders to work together to revive Congress. Mr. Chidambaram also said, “Do not change the status of places of worship”.
Feeling positive about the meeting, Sonia Gandhi declared, “Congress will have a new rising.”
Congress Yatra
Rahul Gandhi said as part of efforts to re-establish the connection with the people, the Congress party has decided that in October, the whole party will go to the people by taking out a ‘yatra’ which would strengthen the bond with the public. “This is the only way for us and there are no short-cuts to this. Anyone who thinks that it can be done through short-cuts it is not possible as it can only be achieved through sweat and hard work,” Gandhi said.
As part of steps to reconnect with the people of the country, the Congress announced the Bharat Jodo [Unite India] campaign on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2.
‘Reset’ of economic policies
At Chintan Shivir, Congress talked about a ‘reset’ of economic policies. Rahul Gandhi lauded the idea of the “one person, one ticket” rule, he said, “I know [AICC general secretary in charge of organization K.C.] Venugopal has made a caveat to that, but I do think that it is very important that we limit the number of family members that are involved in our organization. Let them work, let them develop, and then let them join the organization. We must not have a situation where 5 or 6 or 7 members of a family are in the organization”.
Sonia Gandhi Says Thrice, “We Will Overcome”
Sonia Gandhi said to an enraptured cheering audience at the Chintan Shivir, “We will overcome, we will overcome, we will overcome – that is our determination, that’s our Sankalp,”Ending her short address to party members on a personal note.
She also said that she felt like she had spent an evening with her family during the last day of the grand old party’s brainstorming session when she got the opportunity to meet them. “We will undoubtedly leave re-energized with a refreshed spirit of collective purpose,” she said.
A compact task force will be set up to drive the process of internal reforms which are necessary and which have been discussed in various groups here in Udaipur.
These reforms will focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Historical Padyatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari
The highlight of the Chintan Shivir was the Padyatra Rahul Gandhi plans to take to reconnect with the people of India.
“#RahulGandhi decided to go for a countrywide ‘PADYATRA’ from #Kashmir to #Kanyakumari aiming to reach out to the masses, address people’s issues & highlight Modi govt’s failures. “Our fight against RSS BJP is a fight for India’s future” –
@RahulGandhi”
🔥HISTORIC DECISION🔥#RahulGandhi decided to go for a countrywide 'PADYATRA' from #Kashmir to #Kanyakumari aiming to reach out to the masses, address people's issues & highlight Modi govt's failures.
"Our fight against RSS BJP is a fight for India's future" – @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/G2XY13RjIb— Sunitajadhav (@sunmor2901) May 15, 2022
Of note, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Praja Sankalpa Yatra was the longest padayatra by any politician in India considered to be a political gamechanger where he won the election and became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
A padayatra is considered an auspicious favorable step for politicians who wants to earn a big achievement by reconnecting with the masses, which is ultimately rewarded with victory.
Right now, Congress leaders are speaking in a public meeting in Banswara, Rajasthan.
LIVE: Shri @RahulGandhi addresses a public meeting in Banswara, Rajasthan. https://t.co/DTrB6UpbBC
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 16, 2022