Page 6 - The Indian EYE 041522

BIG STORY APRIL 15, 2022 | The Indian Eye 6

“The road ahead is more challeng-
ing than ever before. Our dedication
and determination, our spirit of resil-
ience are under severe test. Unity at
all levels of our vast organisation is
of paramount importance and speak-
ing for myself, I am determined to
do whatever is needed to ensure it.
Our revival is not just a matter of
importance to us alone--it is, in fact,
essential for our democracy itself and
indeed for our society as well.”
Sonia Gandhi also said she had
received many suggestions on how to
strengthen the Congress and she was
working on “many of them”.
“I am very well aware of how
disappointed you are at the recent
election results. They have been both
shocking and painful. The CWC has
met once to review our performance. Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan
I have met with other colleagues too. Chowdhury during the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting, at the Parliament House, in New Delhi (ANI Photo)
I have received many suggestions on
how to strengthen our organization,” the labour laws have been diluted at
she added. a time of growing unemployment and
The comments come ahead of a livelihood insecurity which is expect-
‘Chintan Shivir’ of the party organised ed to turn out to be another disaster
following party’s defeat in recently as demonetisation.
held Punjab Assembly elections and “Interest rates on employee
its failure to make a mark in Uttar provident fund accumulations have
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and been reduced considerably. Public
Goa. Post the poll drubbing, Sonia sector enterprises, the one important
Gandhi had offered to step down, a avenue for employment of scheduled
suggestion that was turned down by castes and scheduled tribes are being
the Congress Working Committee sold off under the fancy name “asset
(CWC), even as G-23, the group of monetization”. This will be another
dissident leaders called for organisa- disaster as demonetisation turned
tional changes in the party. out to be,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Speaking at the CPP today, So- Former Prime Minister Manmo-
nia Gandhi also thanked all the se- han Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of
nior and experienced colleagues who Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mal-
have retired from the Rajya Sabha likarjun Kharge and Congress leader
for their contribution. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were also
“Four of our very senior and present at the meeting.
experienced colleagues have just re- But Union Minister Anurag
tired from the Rajya Sabha, more Rahul Gandhi meets RJD leader Sharad Yadav, in New Delhi on Friday. Thakur took a dig at Congress over
will retire before we meet next. Each (ANI Photo/Sharad Yadav Twitter) their Assembly Poll debacle and said
and every one of them has contrib- that the party does not look outside
uted much during their tenure. I the Gandhi family. Speaking to re-
thank them all. I am sure they will all ture of political discourse in all states She said that the ruling establish- porters, Thakur said, “Congress does
remain involved in some way or the and that history is being “mischie- ment continues to target the opposi- not look outside the Gandhi family.
other in public and political life, and vously distorted” to add fuel to its tion, its leaders and workers. “The Rahul Gandhi took charge but did
continue to work to strengthen our agenda. full might of the state machinery is not get any seats in West Bengal. Pri-
party,” she said. “The divisive and polarizing unleashed against them. Maximum yanka Gandhi took charge of Uttar
The Congress interim president agenda of the ruling party and its governance to those in power clearly Pradesh but lost deposits and won
further said that this session of Par- leaders has now become a regular means spreading maximum fear and only two seats. Now again Sonia
liament has seen the Budget as well feature of the political discourse in intimidation. Such blatant threats Gandhi has taken command of the
as discussions on the functioning of state after state. History, not just and tactics will not frighten or silence party...” Further slamming the Gand-
various ministries. “A number of you ancient but also contemporary, is us nor will we get cowed down,” she hi leadership in the party, the Union
have participated and put across our mischievously distorted and facts are said. Minister said that the questions of
party’s viewpoints forcefully. Issues maliciously invented to add fuel to She further slammed the BJP what is happening in the Congress
of public importance have also been this agenda. It is for us all to stand for the rising inflation and asked the and whether they will limit themself
raised by our MPs in both Houses. up and confront these forces of hate party members to sustain the ‘Mehn- to just one family have remained un-
Of course, the Government’s atti- and prejudice. We will not allow gai-mukt Bharat ‘campaign. She also changed over years.
tude has not changed,” she added. them to damage the bonds of amity said that the future of medical stu- “Congress does not have the
Hitting out at the ruling BJP, she and harmony that have sustained and dents evacuated from Ukraine needs answer to its own mystery,” he said
said that the ruling party’s “divisive enriched our diverse society for cen- to be assured at the earliest. while referring to the questions raised
agenda” has become a regular fea- turies,” Sonia Gandhi said. The Congress president said that by the party over rising inflation.

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