Difficult struggle ahead but victory will be ours: Sonia Gandhi at Congress Plenary

Former Congress president leader Sonia Gandhi said on Saturday that the Congress is “the vehicle through which the people of India fight for liberty, equality, fraternity and justice for all.”

Speaking on the second day of the party’s three-day 85th plenary session in Raipur, she said: “The path ahead is not easy but my experience as well as the rich history of the Congress tells me that the victory will be ours.”

Sonia Gandhi said the country is going through a challenging time and attacked the BJP and RSS for subverting institutions. “Prime Minister Modi and the BJP-RSS regime has relentlessly captured and subverted every single institution. It has ruthlessly silenced any voice of Opposition,” she said.

Without taking any names she said the Modi regime “has caused economic ruin by favouring a few chosen businessmen at the expense of others and ordinary people.”

‘Fuelling fear’

“It fuels the fires of fear and hatred against fellow Indians; it viciously targets the minorities and ignores crimes and discrimination against them, against women, against Dalits and against the Adivasis,” she said, adding that the Modi regime “through its words and actions showed it’s contempt for the values of our Constitution.”

“The situation today reminds me of the time when I first entered politics,” she said. “Now, as then, we face a difficult struggle ahead and at this crucial time each one of us bears a special responsibility towards our party and towards our country.”

Bharat Jodo Yatra

She said she was happy that her “innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra”.

“Over these 25 years, our party has seen times of high achievement as well as of deep disappointment… Our victories in 2004 and 2009 along with the able leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh gave me personal satisfaction, but what gratifies me most is that my innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY),” Sonia Gandhi said.

Also read: Congress plenary in Chhattisgarh: No polls; Kharge to nominate CWC members

“The BJY is a turning point; it proves that the people of India overwhelmingly want harmony, tolerance and equality. It has renewed the rich legacy of dialogue between our party and the people. It has shown us all that the Congress stands for the people and is ready to fight for them,” she said while thanking Rahul Gandhi “whose determination was crucial to the yatra’s success.”

Appeal to Congressmen

She urged the Congress workers to tackle the current regime with vigour and reach out to people to convey the party’s message. “We must reach out to people and convey our message with clarity and cohesion. We must work with discipline… we must be ready to put aside our personal expectations, make sacrifices, and work with unity and a sense of common purpose,” Sonia Gandhi said.

Also read: Congress plenary: Gandhis stay out of decision to let Kharge nominate CWC members

She urged the Congress workers to achieve the goal of defeating the BJP under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge. “His grounded wisdom and deep experience is a crucial asset for the Congress, especially in these challenging times,” she said.

(With agency inputs)