Congress flags key national issues, announces nationwide student outreach
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Wednesday discussed several major national issues, including students’ unrest over paper leaks, alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, alleged Chinese incursions, delimitation and the “shuddhikaran” of a venue in Haldwani where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a public meeting.
The four-hour CWC meeting in New Delhi was attended by 88 members, including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and four Congress Chief Ministers.
Briefing the media, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, party’s General Secretary Jairam Ramesh and party’s Media and Publicity Chairman Pawan Khera outlined the key decisions.
Vande Mataram issue was also discussed.
Jairam Ramesh said the Congress remained committed to the 1937 CWC resolution limiting the singing of “Vande Mataram” to its first two stanzas.
The CWC expressed concern over students’ protests against repeated examination paper leaks and problems in the education system.
It praised Rahul Gandhi’s student outreach initiatives, including the “Chhatron ki Goonj” programme.
The party decided to organise such programmes in 800 cities across the country, with Rahul Gandhi expected to participate in several of them.
Congress Chief Ministers were also asked to prepare education and examination reform blueprints within a month after consulting students and other stakeholders.
The CWC also decided to intensify protests over what the Congress described as “Chanda Chori” at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
State Congress units have been directed to take the campaign to the village level.
On national security, the CWC expressed concern over alleged Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and developments in Ladakh.
Jairam Ramesh accused the Union government of pursuing a failed foreign policy and alleged repeated compromises with the US and China.
On delimitation, the Congress reiterated its demand to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543 for the next 25 years, while providing 33 per cent reservation for women within the existing strength.
The CWC strongly condemned the “shuddhikaran” of the Haldwani venue following Kharge’s speech and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It also reviewed the ongoing “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan”, which aims to strengthen the party organisation from booth to state level by October 31.
–IANS
brt/khz