What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
UDAIPUR (RAJASTHAN): For the party that had once ushered in the economic reforms in the country, is in dire need of reforms itself.
Acknowledging the fact, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Friday stressed the “dire need of reforms” in the party and emphasised that change in working style is the need of the hour.
In her opening remarks at the party’s three-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir Sonia Gandhi said, “This great and powerful organisation of ours has been expected to show its resilience from time to time. And each time our Congress has responded effectively. Once again, we are expected to show our courage, courage and spirit of dedication.”
ALSO READ: Govt Glorifying Mahatma Killers, Brutalising Minorities: Sonia Gandhi At Chintan Shivir
The Congress leader said that the circumstances that have arisen before our party today are unprecedented. “Extraordinary situations can be dealt with only in extraordinary ways. I am fully aware of this,” she said.
“Every organisation has to bring changes from time to time, not only to survive but also to grow. We are in dire need of reforms – changes in strategy, structural reforms and changes in the way we work on a daily basis,” she said.
The Congress leader also said that this is the most fundamental issue. “But I also want to emphasise that our resurrection will be possible only through huge collective efforts. And those colossal collective efforts, cannot, and will not, be avoided. This Chintan Shivir is an impressive step in this long journey,” she added.
She also urged all party members to prioritise organisation development over personal ambitions, so as to send out a strong message of internal unity in the country. “The party has given a lot to all of us. Now is the time to pay back. I understand, nothing more is necessary than this,” she said.
She also urged the party leaders to keep their views open. “But, only one message should go out – the message of strength, determination and unity of the organisation. This will definitely have to be maintained,” she said.
Referring to recent poll debacles, she further said that we are not oblivious to the recent setbacks. “Nor are we ignorant of the struggle or the difficulties of the struggle that we have to go through and win. We are aware of the expectations people have from us. We have gathered to take this pledge individually and collectively, we will bring our party back into the politics of the country in the same role that the party has always played and the role which is expected by the people of the country in these challenging conditions,” she said.
She also said that the party will introspect with all humility, “but today let us decide that when we leave here, we will leave with a new self-confidence, a new energy and inspired by a new commitment”.
ALSO READ: Chintan Shivir: Congress Mulls ‘One Family, One Ticket’, Calls For Strict Discipline
Earlier in the day, the Congress leaders hinted that several big changes are expected to be debated and adopted during the three-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir.
Speaking to media persons here, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that during the three-day session, the party will discuss several issues.
He said first we will discuss the constitution and democracy, second is protecting diversity, religious, linguistic etc. while the third topic is rising communal polarisation.
He said that the fourth issue to be discussed is protecting autonomous bodies and institutions, followed by national security and policy.
Kharge said that the sixth topic to be discussed in the meeting includes centre-state relations and decisions and alliance with regional parties, while the seventh issue is in the context of the North East, the eighth issue is about Jammu and Kashmir and the ninth issue is how to step forward and in what way, how Congress should face these political challenges.
About 400 party leaders from across the country have arrived in Rajasthan’s Udaipur for the brainstorming session of the party.
The three-day session comes in the wake of two consecutive defeats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019, while suffering reverses in several assembly elections across the country.
