On the first day of the meeting of the newly formed Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad, one of the focus areas was the security threats faced by the country, both internally and externally. The CWC extended sympathies to the families of security personnel who lost their lives in the recent encounter in Kashmir.
“It is inexcusable and an insult to their sacrifice that while this tragedy was unfolding and the nation mourning, the BJP and the prime minister were indulging in a celebratory extravaganza in the national capital congratulating themselves on G20,” read the resolution. Through another resolution, the CWC demanded the removal of Manipur chief minister and the imposition of the President’s rule in the state.
In his opening remarks at the CWC meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The entire nation is witnessing the tragic events still unfolding in Manipur. Modi government allowed the fire of Manipur to reach Nuh in Haryana. These incidents tarnish the image of modern, progressive, and secular India.”
The CWC condemned incursions by China into India-held territory and called upon the government to come clean on the border dispute.
Speaking to media persons on this issue at the meeting venue, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said, “They (Chinese) are changing our borders. They are standing firm in their positions. The Chinese haven’t retreated an inch. We are losing territory and the Chinese are commanding the territory.”
The CWC passed resolutions that were related to economy and political situation of the country.
The CWC expressed its “grave concern at increasing unemployment and continuous rise of prices,” and rejected “the call for a new Constitution and the mischievous argument that basic structure of the Constitution can be changed.”
The Congress also wants the women's reservation bill to be passed during the special Parliament session. The CWC rejected the proposal of ‘one nation, one election.’ It welcomed the INDIA alliance and resolved to work towards its strengthening.
The CWC demanded that the prime minister should declare the Himachal Pradesh floods as a national disaster and extend financial help. The CWC mourned the demise of former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy.
The meeting began at Taj krishna in Banjara Hills with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hoisting the Congress flag at the venue. Present at the meeting were former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The other attendees included Priyanka Gandhi, permanent members of CWC, and special invitees.
On the second day of the three-day event, an 'extended' CWC meeting will be held, which will be attended by 147 members, including all PCC state presidents and CLP leaders. In the meeting, election strategies for five poll-bound states and organisational issues will discussed. In the evening, a public meeting under the banner 'Vijayabheri' will be held in Thukkuguda, on the outskirts of Hyderabad as a precursor to the election campaign.
The state, along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh, will go for polls later this year. The public meeting venue has been named after Rajiv Gandhi. At the meeting, six ‘guarantees’ will be unveiled by Sonia Gandhi which would be implemented in Telangana within one month of coming to power. The date of the meeting is significant, as September 17 was the day when the Hyderabad state, ruled by the Nizam, merged with the Republic of India. Political parties celebrate the day as integration or merger day depending on their political stance. On the final day, September 18, leaders will campaign in 115 assembly constituencies and release ‘chargesheet’ against the BRS government.
There was an important addition to the party as well, as former BRS minister and senior leader Tummala Nageswara Rao joined the party in the presence of Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday.
The ruling party BRS tried to eclipse the CWC meeting in their own style. Supporters of the party allegedly put up posters across the city. While one set of posters had the heading ‘Corrupt Working Committee’ with images of Congress leaders who faced charges or cases of corruption, another poster spoke about unfulfilled promises and wrong policy decisions of the party. Not stopping at that, the BRS also held a public meeting in Nagarkurnool where Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao addressed a large gathering after inaugurating a key irrigation project.