On April 9, during the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session held in Ahmedabad, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge gave a powerful speech where he compared the current political situation in India to a “second war of independence.” He said that the Congress party is now fighting not against foreign rulers, like in the past, but against injustice, inequality, poverty, discrimination, and communalism within the country.
Kharge pointed out that earlier, it was the British who used these tools to divide and control India. But now, according to him, it is the Indian government itself that is promoting such divisions. He strongly believed that, just like the country won independence from the British, the Congress would also win this present fight.
Constitution and Democracy Under Pressure
Kharge criticized the central government, saying it has been attacking the Constitution and weakening democratic institutions for the past eleven years. He mentioned how the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was not allowed to speak in Parliament, despite being officially recognized to do so. According to him, such disrespect for democratic norms has never happened before.
He also said that instead of discussing important national issues, the government focuses on dividing people based on religion and politics, which harms the country’s unity.
Economic Crisis and Migration
The Congress president painted a worrying picture of the Indian economy. He said that more than 15 lakh (1.5 million) well-off Indians have left the country in recent years, mainly because they see no good future here. Many young Indians are leaving in search of jobs, and some are even being treated badly abroad. Meanwhile, those who have taken loans from banks and not returned the money are living comfortably overseas.
He blamed the government for creating economic inequality. According to him, the decision to privatize public sector companies has resulted in massive job losses. These jobs, he said, were meant to benefit the youth, especially from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society.
Problems with Education, Farmers, and Labour
Kharge also expressed concern about the condition of education in the country. He accused the government of turning education into a business and making it difficult for Dalit, OBC, and Adivasi students to get higher education. He said this is being done on purpose to push them into low-paying jobs.
He further criticized the government for not keeping promises made to farmers, like ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops or doubling their income. He also said that the government has weakened labour laws, stopped supporting trade unions, and kept wages the same for the last ten years.
Electoral System and State Discrimination
Kharge raised serious questions about the fairness of elections in the country. He said that the Election Commission is ignoring complaints from opposition parties, and he gave an example of a fake voter list being created in Maharashtra. While many countries are going back to paper ballots, the Election Commission in India is still sticking with electronic voting machines (EVMs), which has raised concerns.
He also accused the central government of treating opposition-ruled states unfairly by not giving them their rightful share of funds. He mentioned states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, saying they are being punished just because they are ruled by opposition parties.
Kharge welcomed the recent Supreme Court judgment which said that governors cannot delay decisions made by elected state governments. He said this decision will help protect democracy.
Rising Prices and Party Discipline
Kharge also talked about the problem of rising prices. He said that even though global oil prices have come down, Indians still have to pay high prices for petrol, diesel, and cooking gas, which is making life difficult for the common man.
In his final message, he encouraged Congress workers to stay committed to the party’s goals. He said that people who are not ready to work hard should take rest, and those who cannot lead properly should retire, as the party needs dedicated leaders and workers to win this new struggle.
The AICC session was attended by top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and party members from all over the country. (PR)