Electoral ups and downs are inevitable but the Congress will continue to fight “divisive ideologies anchored in hate and prejudice” who are deliberately damaging country’s democratic traditions, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Tuesday in a video address to the party on 136th Foundation Day of the party.
Earlier in the day, Ms. Gandhi unfurled the party flag at the Congress headquarters in presence of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, A.K. Antony, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Pawan Bansal, Anand Sharma and K.C. Venugopal.
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“Divisive ideologies anchored in hate and prejudice and which had no role whatsoever to play in our freedom movement are now causing havoc on the secular fabric of our society. They are rewriting history to give themselves a role they do not deserve,” Ms. Gandhi said. She did not directly name either the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government or the RSS through her three-minute long address.
“They inflame passions, instil fear and spread animosity. The finest traditions of our parliamentary democracy are being deliberately damaged. The Indian National Congress will fight these destructive forces with all might at its command,” she added.
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She exhorted the Congress worker not to compromise on their fundamental beliefs. “Electoral ups and downs are inevitable but what is enduring and lasting is our commitment to the service of all people of our diverse society,” she said in a telling comment considering the recent exodus of mid-level leadership to other parties. In last few months, the Congress lost Jitin Prasada who joined the BJP and Sushmita Dev who joined the TMC. More recently former Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma shifted to TMC along with his loyalties.
