Deliberate web of lies was spun to suggest conflict between Nehru and Sardar Patel: Congress

Stating that the ideology of “violence and communalism” is pushing the country into an “abyss of hatred”, the resolution said that the Congress is “determined to emulate the resoluteness of Sardar Patel by fighting the frenzy of religious polarisation”.

Comparing the present BJP government to that of pre-Independence British rule, the resolution stated that the Congress and its leaders are determined to walk on the ‘Nyaypath (road of justice)’ in its struggle to protect the Constitution and democracy. “The path shown by Sardar Patel is this very path. We stand committed to walk on the path lit by Sardar Patel, imbibe his thoughts and reshape our present and future with his vision and thoughts. This would be the fittest tribute to the life work of the Iron Man,” the resolution stated.

“The ideology of make-believe confrontation and mischievously professed division had led to spreading of a deliberate web of lies of conflict between Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru. In reality, it was an attack on the very ethos of our freedom struggle and the inseparable leadership of Gandhi-Nehru-Patel,” it added.

The resolution stated that the “cobweb of deceit and deception” couldn’t sustain for “Sardar Patel himself wrote to Pandit Nehru on 3 August, 1947”.

Quoting the letter, the resolution said, “… (it) unequivocally stated ‘our attachment and affection for each other and our comradeship for an unbroken period of nearly 30 years admit of no formalities.… Our combination is unbreakable and therein lies our strength.’ Today, the forces of animosity and division seek to undermine this very spirit of camaraderie and bonhomie.”

It further said, “Therefore, once again, the Congress is determined to follow the life principles of Sardar Patel to defeat the forces of animosity and division and also expose the fake news factory of these elements.”

The resolution accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fragmenting “India’s united spirit” by “creating artificial splits of regionalism, orchestrating scheming divisions of north v/s south and east v/s west as also wily segregation based on language and culture”. It said, “Therefore, once again, the Congress is determined to tread upon the path of Sardar Patel of reclaiming the spirit of India by ‘Shed Hatred-Unite India’ (principle).”

The resolution further stated, “The BJP government of today emulates the cruel British policies against the farmers – be it … the three anti-agriculture ‘black laws’ to enslave the farmers or … betrayal of the farmers by reneging on the solemn promise of an MSP guarantee law… Therefore, once again, the Congress is ready to tread the path of struggle shown by Sardar Patel for the rights of the farmers.”

The resolution further accused the BJP government of trampling upon the rights of workers and labourers, “be it the assault on MGNREGA or weakening of India’s labour laws”, and said, “The fundamental rights of the people are being bulldozed with impunity. Therefore, the Congress resolves to walk the path of Sardar Patel by fighting for the rights of our workers and labour.”

Referring to entrepreneurs, the Congress resolution accused the state government of ravaging “Gujarat’s bountiful enterprise” and using India’s treasury “for enrichment of a handful of crony capitalists.” It said the Congress would walk in the footsteps of Sardar Patel by a renewed struggle for “justice against extreme wealth inequality and deeply embedded concentration of wealth”.

‘Want to enhance political power of district presidents’

The Congress said it has declared 2025 as a year dedicated to the organisation with the motive to reach out to the booths and voters through the District Congress Committees (DCC) and district presidents by empowering them and fixing their roles and responsibilities.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC), in its national convention to be held at Sabarmati Riverfront, is going to take a decision in this regard on Wednesday.

“We want to enhance the political power of our district presidents. We want to fix their roles and responsibilities and by empowering them, we want to reach down to the booth level. More discussions on this will be held during the convention tomorrow (Wednesday). The role of district presidents is going to be more important than ever before,” AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot said.

“Also, discussions are being held for a major national organisational restructuring of the Congress in 2025,” AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said while addressing the media after the extended CWC meeting.

“Two resolutions – national and Gujarat-centric – will be passed after discussions at the AICC meet,” Venugopal added.

“The year 2025 has been declared as one dedicated to the organisation. From booth to state to national level, Congress organisation will be strengthened. We will reach out to the people and connect them with the party. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, we will keep challenging the BJP and the NDA both inside and outside the Parliament,” Pilot said as he addressed the media outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad – the venue of the CWC meet.

On Congress’s situation in the state, he said, “In Gujarat, we could not win the last elections but the party’s roots are very strong here. We need to work to reach out to all voters and through this convention, that attempt will gather more strength. The Congress will play a major role in facing the political challenges in the prevailing atmosphere, where the Opposition’s voice is being silenced.”