Congress chalks out programmes to mark 125th year

Addressing a meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Presidents and General Secretaries here, Ms Gandhi said the Right to Information marked a revolutionary step for transparent governance, empowering citizens to hold the Government accountable for its actions.

She said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act empowered the rural masses with guaranteed right to work.

"The right to education will provide quality primary education to all our children and now the Women's Reservation Bill, when it comes to fruition, would be the realisation of Rajivji's vision to empower women politically," she said, referring to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Ms Gandhi said the completion of 125 years of the existence of the Congress was a momentous occasion.

She said the party had decided to launch a year-long commemoration by holding a special public function at the Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar on April 13.

"The date symbolises the martyrdom of thousands of men and women. It has enormous historical importance and holds immense emotional and patriotic appeal for our people," she said.

The Congress President said the party had drawn up a list of historical landmarks in the freedom movement - major Satyagrahas launched by Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi, Champaran, Bardoli and Kheda, the historic Quit India call and the call for Sampoorna Swaraj.

She said that a lit of significant All India Congress Committee (AICC) resolutions was also being compiled.

She said the party would hold befitting commemorative activities around these events, specially in venues and sites associated with them.

Ms Gandhi said the party would also bring out a number of publications to mark the 125 years of the founding of the Congress. She said a primer for Congress workers was also being prepared, capturing the key landmarks in the party's long journey, which would be released on August 9 this year.

"These progremmes must not be simply routines. The message that must be conveyed, has to be properly articulated, drawing upon the past, building on the present and projecting a vision for the future," she stressed.

"For the people of India and thousands of Congress men and women across the country, it is a time to recall the struggle, the inspiring leadership of the freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and his colleagues and the supreme sacrifice by millions of Indians," she said.

"It is also an occasion to acknowledge their laudable contribution in laying the foundations of a secular modern democratic India. No other party can claim to have a legacy as rich as ours," she said.

Ms Gandhi said the the results of the 2009 General Elections, which saw the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) return to power for a second consecutive term, were an affirmation of the abiding faith of the Indian people in the values and programmes of the Congress and in its policy of inclusive growth for the welfare of the common man.

"This is the time for consolidation and an opportunity to reach out to each section of society, in each region of the country and connect with the masss. Our young people must be made aware of the history of the struggle for independence. We need to reach out to them as they hold the key to the future," she added.

NNN