New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Wednesday discussed issues including paper leaks and student protests, alleged "Chanda Chori" and the recent developments in Haldwani, with Congress MP KC Venugopal saying the party will take up these issues at the grassroots level.
Venugopal said more than 88 people attended the meeting, while 33 participated in the discussion, including chief ministers and senior working committee members.
He condemned the alleged developments in Haldwani following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's rally and demanded a direct apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging an "upper-caste mindset" behind the incident.
Addressing a press conference after the CWC meeting, Venugopal said, "Today, CWC discussed one of the most important issues that had happened in Haldwani, Uttarakhand... BJP people, what they have done in Haldwani after the meeting of the Congress President is totally unacceptable and condemned. I don't know if this word is enough to say about this. I don't understand the mindset of the BJP... Such a senior-most leader of this country, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, President of the Indian National Congress, deserves this type of treatment? The Prime Minister is not speaking... This is a clear-cut, upper-caste mindset of the RSS... Therefore, the CWC totally condemned this, and we are seeking a direct apology from the Prime Minister of India for this act, because he only showed the path."
He said the CWC focused on three to four major issues, with examinations and paper leaks being one of the key concerns.
"More than 88 people attended the meeting. 33 people participated in the discussion, including the chief ministers and the senior working committee members. As rightly pointed out by Jairam (Ramesh) ji, we are focused on three or four major issues today. Number one is the issue of examinations in this country. Paper leaks," the Congress MP said.
"The agitation carried out by the students of this country and the way in which the Government of India has dealt with that agitation, the Congress Working Committee unanimously opined that the sessions held in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were 100% successful for the Opposition parties, and the government was totally on the back foot on that issue. Basically, these educational issues," he said.
Venugopal said the Congress will continue its "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme, which will be held in around 800 cities, including small and medium-sized cities.
He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would also attend some of the programmes.
"First of all, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' is something we are going to continue in the coming days. In around 800 cities, including small and medium-sized cities, we are going to hold this 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme. Rahul Gandhi himself is going to attend some of these programmes," he further said.
Venugopal said the party will take up the Ram Mandir donation issue at the grassroots level and hold demonstrations through Pradesh Congress Committees at village, panchayat and chaupal levels across the country.
"Number two issue which we have discussed is 'Chanda Chori' (donation theft)... Ram Mandir 'Chanda Chori' is not only an issue of Ram Mandir now, but it has become an issue of people's sentiments. Those who are spreading religion to polarise the people, those who are using the Ram Mandir to polarize the people, are now totally exposed... We are going to take up this issue also at a grassroots level. Our Pradesh Congress Committee is already directed; the CWC directed the Pradesh Congress Committee to have a demonstration at their level, like Chaupal, village level, Panchayat level, throughout the country on this," Venugopal said.
Venugopal said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) expressed concern over developments in Arunachal Pradesh and discussed delimitation, while demanding that the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats be frozen and women's reservation be implemented within the current strength.
"...Those who are talking about 'Deshbhakti' (patriotism) are now totally surrendered. First, they surrendered to America. Now they surrendered to China also. That's what Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed. CWC has shown great concern... Regarding delimitation, we had a detailed discussion... We are demanding a freeze on 543 seats. With the existing 543 seats, there should be a women's reservation... The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed the resolution... We are for that resolution, completely," he said.
He said the CWC also expressed gratitude to voters in Keralam for the Congress-led UDF's victory and discussed strengthening the party's grassroots organisation across the country.
He added, "CWC expressed deep gratitude to the people of Kerala for delivering a resounding mandate to the Congress-led UDF, resulting in a Congress Chief Minister. In Tamil Nadu too, the party formed a post-poll alliance government that effectively defeated the BJP's deceitful tactics and machinery to seize power. The CWC also resolved to undertake comprehensive ground-level introspection, revamp the grassroots organization, and work relentlessly to regain the trust of the electorate in the state... We are doing Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan throughout the country." (ANI)
"Demand direct apology from PM," says Congress' KC Venugopal as CWC condemns Haldwani incident
