New Delhi: The Congress today administered a pledge asking its members to work for secularism and “protect the country from the ideology of hate” in a conclave to mark the 125th birth anniversary of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Former governor Sheila Dikshit administered the pledge, which was repeated by Sonia Gandhi, her son and deputy Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh besides Congress workers at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium today.
Congress leaders say Mrs Gandhi will effectively launch the campaign for the Delhi election early next year, and use the occasion to galvanise workers after massive defeats in the national election and state polls.
The Congress lost power in Delhi last December after three straight terms. The BJP won the most number of seats, followed closely by Arvind Kejriwal’s debutant Aam Aadmi Party, but neither could win a majority. The Congress was reduced to a poor third.
The party insists it is not a “copycat pledge” after Prime Minister Narendra Modi administered a similar pledge when he launched the “Swachh Bharat” or Clean India campaign on October 2 Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
The prime minister has not been invited to a two-day Nehru conference from November 17, to which the Congress has invited 55 political parties barring the BJP and its allies. Written invitations have been sent to politicians like Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, J Jayalalithaa, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Left leaders.
PM Modi is away on a 10-day tour of Myanmar, Australia and Fiji. His party has accused the Congress of being petty. “They must realize the PM is the PM of the country, not a party,” said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Last month, PM Modi and his government were accused by a section of the Congress of neglecting former prime minister Indira Gandhi in their attempt to draw the nation’s attention towards the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 30.
The Congress alleges that the Modi government is underplaying the celebrations of Nehru’s birth anniversary by reconstituting, at the eleventh hour, a committee set up by the previous Congress government to plan the events.
13:35
We will fight the divisive forces of every hue and colour: Sonia Gandhi
13:35
I feel if Jawahar Lal Nehru was here, then he would have asked us to go back to people, connect with people, strengthen the organisation: Sonia Gandhi
13:33
We will fight with tooth and nail against those forces who want to destroy the ideals and legacy of Jawahar Lal Nehru: Sonia Gandhi
13:32
We need to fight for the people, we need to create a people’s movement to fight for the ideals of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru: Sonia Gandhi
13:32
We are a 129-year-old party, We will continue to exist despite difficulties, because we take inspiration from our forefathers: Sonia Gandhi
13:31
Those who are targeting Nehru today, they are not targeting any person, they are targeting an Ideology: Sonia Gandhi
13:31
Jawahar Lal Nehru’s vision was liberal, democratic rooted for a united India : Sonia Gandhi
13:30
Without Nehru ji, We would not have been able to send Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan: Sonia Gandhi
13:29
Jawahar Lal Nehru’s contribution was in virtually every field. Even Mission Mars would not have been possible if Nehru did not lay the foundation of science and technology and space mission: Sonia Gandhi
13:26
Jawahar Lal Nehru was the main architect of modern India: Sonia Gandhi
13:26
Congress President addresses the party’s conclave at Nehru’s centenary celebrations
13:21
Congress leaders take pledge to work for the country.
13:16
When the foundations are weak, then the enemies of this nation benefit : Rahul Gandhi
13:16
Only Congress party’s ideology of love and brotherhood can fight the ideology of hate : Rahul Gandhi
13:15
Congress did commit mistake but never compromised on secularism: Rahul Gandhi
13:15
Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at PM Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and calls it just a photo-opportunity. He blamed the BJP for weakening the foundation of the country.
13:12
Congress is a party which deeply believes in love and harmony: Rahul Gandhi
13:11
When I read the visitors book, Nehru Ji had written there that I thank the British for keeping me in jail that took away my anger from me: Rahul Gandhi
13:09
I visted the cell in Naini Jail where Nehru was imprisioned and amazed to see what he wrote in the visitor diary: Rahul Gandhi
13:05
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressing Nehru’s centenary celebrations.
13:04
The decision to have grand celebration at Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birth anniversary can backfire as the party is still battling allegations that it can’t think beyond the Nehru-Gandhy legacy.
