As new chief, Kharge pushes for accountability & change in Congress

New Delhi | Updated: 05 December, 2022 12:45 pm IST
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

In the first meeting of the Congress standing committee under his chairmanship, president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday stressed accountability among the party ranks and called for a rejig in the organisation.

In his opening remarks, Kharge said the party office bearers unable to fulfil their responsibilities would have to make way for other colleagues.

He asked state in-charges to submit a roadmap for holding mass movements on public issues over a period of 30 to 90 days and sought the party’s schedule of activities in states where elections are due before 2024.

“I believe that the biggest part of our responsibility towards the party and the country is – organisational accountability from top to bottom. If the Congress organisation is strong, accountable, and lives up to the people’s expectations, then only we will be able to win elections and serve the people of the country,” the Congress president said.

In a warning to party office bearers, Kharge said that some people assume that the party will ignore it even if they don’t take proper responsibility for their duties. “This is neither right nor acceptable. Those who are unable to fulfil their responsibility will have to make way for their colleagues,” he said.

Kharge, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, further said that he would like the general secretaries and state in-charges first to ensure their own responsibility and then the responsibility of the organisation under them.

“As general secretaries and in-charges of states, you should introspect whether you tour your respective areas for at least 10 days in a month. Have you visited every district and unit, discussed issues with party leaders and inquired about local problems and issues?” Kharge asked.

He called upon all general secretaries and in-charges to prepare a blueprint of political activities and agitations.

“I hope that all of you will prepare a blueprint for the organisation and mass movements and discuss it with me in the next 15 to 30 days. Members of the Congress steering committee and other leaders will also be included in this programme as per the requirement,” he said.

He said that Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is scripting history, and it has grown into a national movement.

“It is a movement that has called for a decisive war against the back-breaking inflation, unemployment, intolerable economic and social inequality, and the politics of hatred in the country,” Kharge told Congress leaders at the meeting.

The Congress president also hit out at the Modi government alleging that it has been attacking the people, their rights and hopes and that it was the responsibility of the grand old party to protect them.

“When the monthly budget of the poor or middle class gets hurt, then it is an attack on their life. When the country’s economy has fallen flat and the rupee keeps falling along with the credibility of the government, then it is an attack on the development and progress of the country.”

The Congress chief accused the Modi government of maintaining a “silence” on China occupying Indian land along the border. “It is an attack on the integrity of the country.”

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