Congress Sandesh, September -2015 Flipbook PDF

Congress Sandesh,September -2015

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EDITORIAL

T

he Congress Party organized a mammoth ‘Kisan Samman Rally’ at the Ramlila Ground at New Delhi on 20th September, 2015 With the representatives of the 80 Crore farmers in the country collected from over the length and breadth of the country and the ruling NDA would have to bite their words of making a Congress Free India during their regime. Even with comparatively reduced numbers in the Parliament, the Congress party has not allowed the NDA Government to succeed in its anti people policies and have blocked the efforts of the NDA to harm the interest of the common man over the interest of its crony capitalists whom they truly represent. Speaking during the CWC meeting held on 8th September, the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that the Modi Government had chosen to disregard the will of the parliament and displayed an inexplicable hurry to snatch the lands from farmers. But with the sustained efforts of the Congress, the Modi Government has been compelled to withdraw the draconian ordnance issued by them that has been allowed to lapse. Speaking at the rally The Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi said that although this has happened due to the collective will of the workers of the Congress party and the support of the farmers as well as the cooperation of other parties in opposition let it not be believed that wisdom has finally dawned on the Modi Government. The Prime Minister speaking in his Man Ki Baat program clearly allowed his mindset to slip out since he said that we will now achieve our ‘anti farmer policy’ by legislating at the state level. The struggle therefore is not yet over. He exhorted the farmers and Congress workers to be prepared to take the struggle on at the state level and not allow the Modi Government to succeed in their nefarious designs. On his own behalf and that of the party he assured the farmers and farm workers as well as the adivasis that the commitment to fight to the end for the just causes of the poor and the downtrodden was a tenet for the Congress party and we will leave no stone unturned to fight for their rights. The Bihar elections are just across and the Congress is fighting in the elections as a part of the Grand Alliance. The issues are clear and Development is the main plank for the electorate to consider before voting in the polls. Development has been the sole goal to bring up the plight of the common man and the deprived section of society, the Congress and all policies of the UPA were targeted towards this end. We are confident that the NDA alliance led by the BJP that has already been exposed as a talk only, sloganeering and tall promising regime of PM Modi has been thoroughly exposed. The Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi said that even NDA’s program Make in India was really Take in India because the NDA was forcibly taking away the rights of the poor and the farmers. All the important schemes of the UPA designed in the favor of the farmers, poor and the downtrodden have either been dropped or truncated. Even the schemes for the welfare of women have been given a short shift. The people of Bihar will give a befitting reply to the misdeeds and non-performance of the Modi Government. It is indeed strange and a blatant display of vindictive behavior that the postage stamps issued carrying the pictures of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi have been ordered to be discontinued. Smt. Indira Gandhi was an elected leader who led the Congress successfully through many elections and enjoyed the affection of the nation to be Prime Minister over several Governments of independent India. Shri Rajiv Gandhi had the distinction of being the Prime Minister of a Government of a party with largest support in the Parliament since independence. The BJP can’t just wish them away or force people to forget their contribution in building the India that we have inherited. No one stops the Government from commemorating their icons but let the BJP not forget that the BJP Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee had likened Indira ji to Durga. It is shame that the NDA regime has sunk to such depths to obliterate the memory of our leaders. They may rest assured that this will not lower the affection that they enjoy in the people of the nation. The BJP would be well advised to rethink in such matters and not to let vindictiveness go to another extreme. Newspaper reports have exposed a strange action of the former Chief of the Army Staff General V.K Singh currently a minister in the Modi Government. Just before the time came for him to demit his office he ordained two special task force, to destroy documents relating to Technical Services Division (TSD). TSD was created as a special intelligence unit. It even bought equipment for mobile interception without any proper authorization. This was an act of impropriety and was clearly intended to hide some secrets relating to Gen. V.K Singh before he demitted office. It is a serious matter and requires a thorough probe at the highest level. In order to clear the air the Government must initiate appropriate action to get to the bottom of this act of strange behavior of Gen. V.K Singh who distinguished himself by taking a Government to court to remain in service. Nation remembers with affection Dr. S Radhakrishnan, former President of India on his 127th Birth anniversary. We celebrate the teachers day in his memory for his contribution to the field of education and the prominent positions he held in the field of education. v Congress Sandesh | 3 | SEPTEMBER 2015

Published in Hindi & English

Time and again the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister are trying to mislead the people of the country by trying to show Congress as the villain of the piece in the delay of implementation of the GST. Said to be the greatest game changer ever, of independent India, the non-implementation of which is said to be the reason why the Government has failed to show any performance. Of course they choose to forget that it has been lying unimplemented for so many years, when introduced by the UPA due to the obstructionist attitude of the BJP. Since they are unable to still get a consensus of the opposition they are trying to get the support by saying that after all it was the Bill of the Congress led UPA. EDITOR

Dr Girija Vyas

MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Salman Khursheed Jairam Ramesh EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Ram Naresh Sinha Rattan Francis MANAGER Kamal Shahu EDITORIAL OFFICE Congress Sandesh, All India Congress Committee 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi-110 011 Phone: 2301 9080 Extn: 429 Fax:2301 7047 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website:www.congresssandesh.com PUBLISHER Motilal Vora Published every month by Motilal Vora on behalf of Sandesh Trust, All India Congress Committee and printed at Chaar Dishayen Printers, G-40, Sector-3, Noida 201 301

But the changes that have been introduced on the UPA Bill have made it into a possible hindrance for the business and industry at the cost of the consumer, rather than simplifying the law. It only reflects the lack of understanding of the measure originally introduced by the UPA. The Congress is asking for few amendments all of which are logical and in the interest of the country:We want the abolition of the 1% additional tax over GST. The Congress opines that this levy will be hitting at the very basis of GST and will have a cascading effect on consumer prices. Goods will be charged 1% on every state they cross over thereby becoming an administrative nightmare and add to cost in a big way.   We want to restore the Independent Dispute Settlement mechanism as this would enhance confidence in GST and there would be an impartial mechanism to sort out disputes. This was there in the UPA Bill   We want to put a cap of 18 % to protect the interest of consumers and not provide an avenue to keep on rising taxes for meeting other requirements. This too is a consumer friendly demand. Instead of addressing these people friendly demands the BJP is busy trying to hide its inefficiencies by blaming the Congress for asking what is correct. The BJP should at least now come down too tackling real issues and address the demands of the Congress party made in the interest of the country.

Subscription Rates Two Years = Rs.200/- • Three Years = Rs.300/- • Five Years = Rs.500/- Outstation cheques should include Rs.25 extra towards realization charges. Cheques/Demand Draft may be sent in favour of ‘Sandesh Trust’, 24 Akbar Road, New Delhi-110011 Congress Sandesh | 4 | September 2015

Contents Vol. XVIII No. 1, September 2015

6

CWC Meet The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi in her speech said that the Modi government chose to disregard the will of Parliament

Political Resolution

8

9

Kisan Samman Rally Addressing the rally, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that we will be ready to fight future challenges • Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi in his address said that the Congress stands with the farmers 11 • Former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh said at the rally that we have to strengthen our leaders Soniaji and Rahulji so that we can oppose these anti-farmer and anti-poor forces strongly 12 • Congress leaders A.K. Antony, Motilal Vora, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the rally was held to honour the farmers and the labourers of India 13 and Lalitgate

32

Comment

22

Comment

Agriculture sector in Indian Economy can’t be overlooked, feels Congress Sandesh

VP’s J&K Visit

15

17

Bihar Assembly Elections Addressing the people, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that the people of Bihar are always conscious and ready for their fight for Respect and honour 18

On his visit to JK, Congress VicePresident, Shri Rahul Gandhi meets the victims of Pak firing 25

VP’s Odisha Visit Addressing the farmers, Congress VicePresident, Shri Rahul Gandhi blames Modi and Naveen Patnaik for agrarian crisis

Vice-President’s Visit

27

Congress Vice-President visited West Champaran in Bihar and said that Narendra Modi is just making ‘empty promises’

View-point

20

Analysis

CP’s Rai Bareily Visit Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi while addressing the people strongly attacked Modi for being quiet on Vyapam

Why Modi’s reforms lie in tatters, remarks Shri Manishankar Aiyar 29 Not just OROP. It is another grave injustice for the Army, writes Shri Shashi Tharoor, MP

Congress Sandesh | 5 | September 2015

Communalizing culture, the real agenda of the BJP, feels Dr. Ravni Thakur 34

From the Archives Time for Action

Stateswatch • Nation pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi 37 • Homage to the First Lady 38 • Protest against suspension of Congress MPs 41 52

Interview Series Interview with dedicated Congressperson

Mahila Congress Report 53 AICC Diary 54 57

Chintan Shivir

Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi while addressing the Party workers asks to evolve team spirit

Modi- Govt chose to disregaRd the Will of Parliament: Smt Sonia Gandhi Following is the Congress President’s Speech at the CWC Meet on 8 September 2015 at the Party Headquarters

I

welcome you to this meeting of the Congress Working Committee.

We last convened barely two weeks after the Modi Government had first promulgated its draconian Land Ordinance. For reasons best known to it, the Modi-Government chose to disregard the will of Parliament and displayed an inexplicable hurry to snatch lands from our farmers. Thanks to our Party’s sustained campaign, the government has been compelled to withdraw its anti-farmer amendments. The credit for this goes to every worker of the Congress Party, who under Rahul’s active guidance, carried out a sustained agitation.  I should make a mention of all like-minded political parties and all members of  civil society who joined hands with us in this fight.  It goes without saying that lakhs of farmers across the country  tirelessly demonstrated and agitated against this Ordinance.  Even today they are under great distress because of excess rain or drought conditions, yet no adequate relief has reached them thanks to the Modi-government’s insensitivity to their plight. Similar campaigns will now need to be mounted against the assault on tribal welfare, on women and child welfare, on labour laws, on laws that protect the environment and forests, on RTI and on our flagship initiatives MGNREGA which are being systematically undermined. The U-turn on the Land Ordinance is evidence that the government is out of touch with ground realities. It has become painfully clear that most of the pledges made by the Prime Minister during his election campaign were nothing more than hawa baazi. The Modi Government has failed abysmally to match words with deeds, to match media events with actual accomplishments, to match headlines with substance. The economy is on a downward slide while prices continue on their unrelenting rise. As for promises such as the creation of jobs or slogans such as Make in India, the less said about them the

better. The autonomy and integrity of vital institutions which have stood the country in good stead are being systematically eroded. Writers and progressive thinkers are being physically eliminated.   The media is being threatened with notices and other repressive measures. History is sought to be rewritten with special targetting of Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and builder of democratic institutions. This should hardly come as a surprise to us. The country last week was given clear evidence of what has been obvious for a long time that the Modi government is controlled and directed by the RSS, whose agenda is well known to all of us.

The Congress party has always been and will be accountable to party workers and to the people of India. And today we have gathered to deliberate on another important agenda. Our priority must be to strengthen our existing support base and actively reach out and win the confidence of new constituents.

Congress Sandesh | 6 | September 2015

CWC Meet The security situation in our neighbourhood has deteriorated considerably. Our jawans and civilians are being increasingly targeted. Instead of a coherent policy on Pakistan, this government can’t seem to make up its mind on what it should do. From aggressively mocking Dr. Manmohan Singh and his policy during the election campaign, the Prime Minister has been reduced to unedifying flip-flops casting doubts on what he really stands for. The Congress party has always been and will be accountable to party workers and to the people of India. And today we have gathered to deliberate on another important agenda. Our priority must be to strengthen our existing support base and actively reach out and win the confidence of new constituents.   To successfully implement these initiatives we will need to bolster organizational institutions right from the grassroots level. The party unit which is closest to the people, the Block Committees and Booth Committees, must be sufficiently empowered. As we are embarking on registering new members, we have to ensure that our internal processes and systems are sufficiently robust to recognize, reward and nurture talent. A transparent mechanism to recognize and reward hard working and performing workers should be institutionalized. As a party we have always championed the rights of the marginalized sections of society such as women, adivasis, dalits, minorities and OBCs. It is only through affirmative action that we will guarantee greater say in the working of our party to these sections of society. The proposed amendments to our Constitution, which have been circulated to you, were first presented to this committee on 13th January 2015.  They were a result of extensive deliberations guided by the Vice President. I believe these proposals reflect the opinion of a large number of party workers and are built upon our continued commitment to inclusion and empowerment.  These amendments will require some time to be implemented, but once done they shall go a long way in making our party institutions truly responsive and equip it to face the challenges that lie ahead.  Let us now proceed with the Agenda. v

Greetings on Ganesh Chaturathi New Delhi: Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has extended her greetings on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturathi. She hoped that the festival, as always will mark the removal of hurdles and bring peace and prosperity to all. Ganesha Chaturthi  is the  Hindu festival  celebrated in honour of the god  Ganesha. The festival, also known as  Vinayaka Chaturthi, is observed in the  Hindu calendar  month of  Bhaadrapada, starting on the  shukla  chaturthi. The date usually falls between August and September. The festival usually lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi. The festival involves installing clay idols of Ganesha in home and public pandals, which are worshipped for ten days. These are immersed at the end of the festival in water such as a lake, along with the idol. The festival was celebrated as a public event since the days of Maratha King  Shivaji  (1630-1680). However, the public festival as celebrated in Maharashtra today, was introduced by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale in 1892 by installing first Sarvajanik (Public) Ganesh idol- Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, Bhudwar Peth, in Pune. The first meeting regarding starting the Sarvajanik Ganesh utsav took place under the leadership of Bhausaheb Laxman Javale at his residence (Bhudwar Peth) now known as Bhau Rangari Bhavan. In 1893 Lokmanya Tilak  praised the concept of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in Kesari Newspaper. In 1894, he installed Ganesh idol in Kesari wada, Pune too and started preaching Ganesh Utsav. While celebrated all over India, it is grandest and most elaborate of them especially in  Maharashtra,  Karnataka,  Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu,  Kerala,  Andhra Pradesh,  Goa  and in other parts of  India and outside India, it is celebrated widely in Terai region of Nepal and by the Hindu diaspora in the United States, Canada, Mauritius, and other places. v

Congress President’s greetings on Onam New Delhi: Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has extended her greetings on the joyous occasion of Onam. A festival celebrated by all, Onam as always will bring about harmony, well-being and prosperity to everyone, Smt. Gandhi hoped. In a message to the people of Kerala, Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi give his Greetings on the joyous occasion of Onam. May the festival usher in prosperity, happiness and peace for everyone Onam is a festival celebrated in Kerala. Kerala’s rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the month of Chingam, celebrates the King Mahabali’s annual visit from  Patal  (the  underground). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory. The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the another world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. v

Congress Sandesh | 7 | September 2015

CWC Meet

CWC Resolution SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Political Resolution The meeting of the Congress Working Committee chaired by the Congress President-: Deplores the failure of the Prime Minister and BJP leadership to take immediate action against the corrupt transgressions of law and public morality by his External Affairs Minister and the BJP Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; Condemns the confrontationist mindset of the Government and its refusal to have any constructive engagement with the opposition that has undermined Parliamentary Democracy; Expresses deep anguish about the continued distress experienced by farmers and the drought in several parts of the country and demands that farmers’ rights be respected, they be compensated appropriately for their losses, and be provided with fair and remunerative prices for their produce, in addition to being given the infrastructure that was promised to them during the election campaign. We call upon the Government to immediately provide a comprehensive relief package including special Girdwari for farmer’s crops, arrangements for drinking water, special food and work program and fodder for the cattle; Underlines grave concern about the slowdown of economic growth, decline in exports for eight consecutive months, sharp decline in credit growth, sluggish investments and abysmal growth in job creation. The sharp increase in the prices of vegetables, pulses and essential commodities has increased the hardship of the common man. The Government has failed to timely intervene and ensure the availability of essential food items at affordable prices; Calls upon the Central Government to take a decisive stand on Pakistan, do what is necessary to establish peace and security on our borders, and ensure that the perpetrators of cross border terrorism are brought to justice; Deprecates the attempts by the Central Government to undermine the independence of academic and cultural institutions, bypassing the principle of merit in appointing the heads and members of such institutions, brazenly subverting India’s cherished education system in furtherance of its Right Wing agenda and condemns the Central

government’s repeated efforts to distort the history of India to suit its divisive political agenda and destroy the rich legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru- stalwart of India’s freedom struggle, the first Prime Minister and builder of modern India; Demands that the Central Government recognizes the independence of the media and the inalienable right of civil society to undertake social work within the parameters of the Constitution; Denounces the barbaric attacks on writers and free thinkers and demands that the right wing forces behind such acts of violence be brought to justice and given swift and deterrent punishment; Reiterates the Congress Party’s continued commitment towards implementing GST, provided the Central Government addresses the existing shortcomings in the bill while recalling that it was the UPA government which first introduced the legislation in March 2011 but which was vehemently opposed by the BJP at that point of time; Urges the Central government to immediately ensure adequate funding and support to the states affected by drought including to the Government of Assam in dealing with the flood situation in that state and reminds the Central Government of its unfulfilled promise to provide generous aid to Jammu & Kashmir for the floods that affected the state a year ago. We also urge upon the Prime Minister to not obliterate the principles of co-operative federalism by taking unilateral decisions affecting the interests and territorial integrity of the states without consultation as was done in case of Naga Accord; Opposes the Central government’s plan to dilute labour laws and congratulates the Indian National Trade Union Congress and other trade unions for the success of the nation-wide Bandh; Welcomes the lapse of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Second Ordinance 2015 and congratulates Congress Vice President, Shri Rahul Gandhi, all the workers of the Congress party, leaders and members of likeminded political parties, civil society and farmers across the country for their determined and resolute opposition

Congress Sandesh | 8 | September 2015

continued on page 10

Kisan Samman Rally

We will be ready to fight future challenges: Smt SonIA Gandhi Extracts of the Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi’s Speech in Kisan Samman Rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi on 20th September, 2015. the fight at the centre but now wants to bring out the proposed Bill through states. There is a need to be more attentive, otherwise this historic struggle will go in-vain. You will be ousted from your land.

(Translated from Hindi)

E

xactly five months ago, we all gathered here in this historic ground to oppose emphatically the anti-farmer Bill introduced by the Modi government. We organized agitations across the country against the proposed changes in the Land Acquisition Bill of 2013. Farmers in large numbers and social organisations raised their voices against this Bill. Except NDA, all political parties opposed the Bill vehemently. PM Modi failed to understand the seriousness and intensity of agitations and tried to downplay it. But when the power of plough (Hal) and hand (Haath) united together, he had to bow down. Observing this vast gathering of people here, it is certain that the BJP government would have come to the conclusion that they have losing the ground very fast. This government wanted to snatch your land. At last, we won but this victory doesn’t belong to a particular person. It is your victory. You all work very hard

whether it is summer or winter; under sun or shadow; in day or night. You work tirelessly to fulfill our needs. You are not only Annadaata (provider of food grains) but Bhagya-Vidhaata (providence of fortune) also. We have succeeded in our fight but the battle is yet to be won. The battle-field has been shifted to states. The PM lost

Ever since the Modi government has come to power, farmers are under acute crisis. Their economic condition is going from bad to worse with each passing day. In every nook and corner of our country, farmers and farm labourers are facing severe hardships. The problems being faced by farmers are manifold like drought, floods, unavailability of water for irrigation, electricity, seeds, fertilisers etc. White Fly is harming the crop but the medicine available for it is fake and

we won but this victory doesn’t belong to a particular person. It is your victory. You all work very hard whether it is summer or winter; under sun or shadow; in day or night. You work tirelessly to fulfill our needs. You are not only Annadaata (provider of food grains) but Bhagya-Vidhaata (providence of fortune) also. Congress Sandesh | 9 | September 2015

Kisaan Samman Rally hence ineffective.Many products like edible oil, wheat, rubber, silk are being imported and as a result it gives benefits not to you but to middlemen. The prices of essential commodities are rising sharply and our respected sisters are finding it difficult to run their homes smoothly. Who is responsible for all these problems? Only the Modi government, its policies and its unresponsive approach towards you are solely responsible. You may remember that when you are debt-ridden, our UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh wiped out farmer’s loan worth Rs 72,000 crores. Our government tried its best to help you. But what is the approach of this government to your worries? Instead of extending helping hand to you, tax-benefits worth Rs 40,000 crores are being provided to foreign capitalists. It seems that PM Modi has neither time nor is interested at all to solve your problems.He has time and interest for industrialists. He listens their grievances patiently. He has time, interest and enough money for his foreign tours. During election campaigns, Modiji made numerous promises. But when he came to power, he curtailed financial assistance to various welfare schemes initiated by UPA. There is a curtailment also in the schemes meant for our sisters in whose lap the future of our country is nurtured. He didn’t spare even health and education programmes. The youth of this country is wandering in search of jobs. What happened to the promise of providing crores of jobs?

The Modi government has failed in every sphere. To hide its failures, the PM accuses the Congress and considers it as an obstacle in the path of development. I sometimes laugh and at times take pity on such statements. I want to ask Where are his ideological friends when freedom struggle was going on? How can a party which fought freedom struggle, sacrificed lives, built India after independence be a hurdle in the path of progress? Yes, the Congress party will create obstacles when he will not pay attention to your problems; will not listen to your voices; will not give genuine MSP and bonuses to farmers and will not provide you necessary resources. We will certainly create hurdles if foreign agriproducts in huge quantity will be thrust upon us. We will create hindrances if drought and flood ravaged farmers are left at the mercy of god; if basic rights of labourers are taken away; if the land belonging to schedule tribes and of forests are snatched away in order to hand over it to a few selected industrialists and if prices of essential commodities are not brought down to safe limits. We will certainly oppose such development if it is meant for some rich people at the cost of a vast majority of people. Today, every section of our society is facing hardships which are increasing “by leaps and bounds”. But the Modi government is making only hollow promises. This government is encouraging such things which detach people’s attention from real issues; which create tension and intolerance

Congress Sandesh | 10 | September 2015

among people and which lead to pose a very serious threat to our future and national unity. It is the biggest challenge before us. We have to combat it unitedly. National interest is above all for us and we are ready to give sacrifices for it. I thank you all that despite being very much engaged in Kharif and other related works, you all came here in such a large number. Your presence has given us new hope, new faith and strengthened our commitment. With this strength we will be ready to fight future challenges. v continued from page 8

CWC Resolution to this draconian Ordinance and demands that the soul and spirit of the 2013 legislation is not whittled down by attempts to negate it through surreptitious efforts at the State level; Calls upon the constitutionally elected Government of India to remain accountable to the Parliament of India and the 125 Crore people of India instead of making a mockery of democracy by subjugating itself and being remote controlled by RSS. We condemn the inexplicable servility of Prime Minister and his entire Government in seeking policy directions and accountability commands from RSS;

The meeting

Resolves that the Congress party will continue to oppose with greater vigour the anti-poor, anti-labourer and anti-farmer policies of the Modi Government, cautions that the government should devote time for governance and take decisive action on issues concerning the economy and national security and demands that the government takes tolerance decisive action against divisive and communal forces instead of helping and protecting them and uphold the plurality and diversity of our society. v

Kisaan Samman Rally

Congress stands with the farmers: Rahul Gandhi Speech of the Congress Vice-President Shri Rahul Gandhi in “Kisan Samman Rally” at Ramlila Maidan on 20th September, 2015

S

(Translated from Hindi)

ome months ago, a meeting was organized here at Ramleela Ground, where the Congress party and the farmers had emphatically declared that they will not give their land at any cost. PM Narendra Modi has said to his supporters that when BJP will win the general election, I will annul the Land Bill of farmers; of the Congress party. He introduced the Bill with proposed amendments through three ordinances. At last he said his Mann Ki Baat. He said that the ordinance will lapse and we will not annul the Bill of the Congress party. This is the victory of the Congress party but at the same time it is a bigger victory of Indian farmers. In Lok Sabha, we have only 40-45 M.Ps but they raised their voices decisively. I want to share it with you that they never backtracked. I am very proud of it. But why we have to fight? There are two options before us. The one was – we should fight for farmers and stand by them and the other was – we should keep quiet. I want to tell you with some detail why we fought. My mother is sitting here at the stage. Everyone has a mother. There is no one who has no mother. If you think over it, you will have different shades in your memory regarding your mother. You remember your mother when you are afraid; you remember your mother in happier times. When you go home, your mother cooks for you. Sometimes she burns her hands while cooking. At times, she cooks less than what is required. One day I was talking to farmers and one of them told me – A farmer has two mothers.The first is one who gives him birth; brings him up; protects him and the second one is his land in which he cultivates; dots it with the drops of his blood and sweat. That farmer also told me that since you are not a farmer, you can’t understand it. But I am a farmer. I want to say specifically that Narendra Modiji is not merely snatching our land, but our mother also. He wants to snatch our mother and wants to give it to others. We can’t allow it; can’t tolerate

it. Farmers asked me to fight their battle. They advised me to stand by them. That day, I understood the whole matter. That day I also understood that it is not the fight of farmers or land; it is actually an emotional fight for farmers; a fight for the future of farmers. So the Congress party has decided to stand with the farmers. When our 40-45 MPs raised their voice and shouted in Parliament. They have strength of their own only, but they are filled with the strength of farmers of this country. That’s why they have won. Yesterday, I went to Bihar, I delivered a speech there. I raised the issues of farmers. Modiji said his Mann Ki Baat that he will leave the ordinance to lapse. But I know Modiji very well. What he really thinks, he doesn’t speak. On one hand, he says that he will not nullify the Bill of the Congress party but on the other, he directed his CMs that whatever has not been done at the centre, try to act upon that at the state-level. I want to say to the leaders of the Congress party that this fight is not limited to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha only. This fight has not been concluded yet. It has been shifted to stateassemblies. The Congress party has to fight this battle in every state. Today, farmers are weak, disturbed and restless. Modiji wants that farmers should remain weak.He had promised that there will be an increase of 50% in MSP, but that didn’t happen. He promised that his government will always be there to help farmers. But when untimely rains, hailstorms destroyed their crops, BJP government didn’t come forward to help farmers. I went to Punjab. Farmers narrated their pitiable condition. One of the farmers whom I met there, committed suicide after some days. In every state the condition of farmers is miserable. Sugarcane farmers are in great trouble. I want to say to the PM that he should help farmers; should try to understand their problems; should stand for their causes. If you don’t help them, the Congress party will come forward. We will help them. The flag of the Congress party will be

Congress Sandesh | 11 | September 2015

Kisan Samman Rally there. We will not backtrack at any cost. Yesterday, I narrated a joke in Bihar. It is about the thinking of the BJP-led government. I have given him the name of Suit-Boot. I will explain why I have given this name. A man attired in Suit-Boot had to cross a river. He found a boatman sitting in his boat. He asks the boatman, “Can you get me to the other side of the river in your boat? Remember my Suit-Boot should not get dirty.” The boatman replied, “Alright, come and sit in the boat.” The man in Suit-Boot sits in the boat. The conversation starts between them after 10 minutes.

We have to strengthen our leaders Soniaji and Rahulji so that we can oppose these anti-farmer, anti-poor forces strongly: Dr. Manmohan Singh Speech of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in “Kisan Samman Rally” at Ramleela Maidaan on 20th September, 2015

The man – Have you studied science? The boatman – No. The man – Your 25% of your life has been wasted. After another 10 minutes. The man – Brother, tell me one thing, you have not studied science, you must have studied maths? The boatman – No. I can count but I didn’t study maths. The man – If you didn’t study maths, your 50% of life has gone waste. After another 5 minutes. The man – Can you work on a computer? The boatman – No. Not at all. The man – Then your three-fourth life has gone waste. Now you only have remaining 25% of life.After 10 minutes the boat began to shake vigorously. The boatman took a turn and asked, “Brother, tell me one thing-do you know how to swim? The man replied that he didn’t know how to swim. The boatman said, “Your 100% life has gone waste.” I am of the opinion that everyone has some kind of knowledge. A farmer, a labourer and a suited-booted man – all have knowledge. But Modiji listens only to men with soot-boot and talks only with them. I have given references about Gandhiji. Earlier, Gandhiji used to wear suit. But when he mingled among the people, his concerns mixed with that of people, then slowly and steadily his suit was put off. First jacket and then shirt were left. Then came a kurta. It also didn’t last long. At the end, only a dhoti, a stick, a spectacles, perhaps a watch and a utensil remained with him. On the other hand, Modiji wears new clothes every day; wears a suit worth Rs 15 lakhs. As much as he maintains a distance from you, his clothes shines more in that proportion. When he thinks over employment, you will see businessmen and bureaucrats instead of youth or labourers around him. When he considers the issues of agriculture, you will see big experts wearing suits around him instead of farmers and farmlabourers. There you will find bureaucrats discussing what has to be done for Indian farmers and for the future of this country. You can take any example. People who are directly

(Translated from Hindi)

Y

ou all have gathered here to oppose the decisions and steps taken by the Modi government to stop or discontinue the schemes and programmes meant for the poor, farmers and labourers of India and which were initiated under the leadership of Soniaji and Rahulji. I am very glad that the UPA government passed the Land Acquisition Bill in 2013 for the well-being of the Indian people. But due to our strong opposition and suggestions of other opposition leaders, the changes proposed by the Modi government didn’t materialize. For this, I thank Soniaji, Rahul Gandhiji and all the farmers and labourers of India. I want to say that this fight has just begun and there are several struggles ahead. Efforts are being made to weaken several other programmes and schemes also which were initiated by the UPA government. These programmes and schemes were started for the welfare and protection of farmers and labourers. MGNREGA was such a programme by which our farmers and labourers can earn their livelihoods. Serious efforts are being made to weaken these welfare programmes, Public Distribution System and the scheme of providing MSP for crops of farmers. They are trying to weaken the Food Security Act also which was passed by the UPA government in 2013. Therefore, we have to be attentive and cautious. We have to strengthen our leaders Soniaji and Rahulji so that we can oppose these anti-farmer, anti-poor forces strongly. Jai Hind. v

continued on page 14 Congress Sandesh | 12 | September 2015

Briefing To honour the farmers and the Labourers of this country

KISAN SAMMAN RALLY

Shri A.K. Antony, Shri Motilal Vora, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala have given this statement: 1. Eighty crore farmers of the country are the food providers and also are the fortune makers. The egoist ordinance failed in front of the Congress and the farmers. The farmers of the country with a strong struggle failed the Tuglaqi Ordinance and won the land acquisition Bill. Today, the whole country is watching, as to how sinister was the ordinance of the Modi ji, and how great was the victory of the farmers? In the last decade an opinion has been formed to get justice to the farmers of the country and to make them the part of the Kisan-labour industrialization and modernization revolution and progress. The medium of this revolution and change was to bring fundamental changes in the land acquisition of 1894. Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi brought a new awareness from Bhatta-parsoul in Uttar Pradesh to every nook and corner of the country. Congress Party and Sri Rahul Gandhi participated in the struggle of the farmers, labourers and Adivasis throughout the country. Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi is treading on this path of change by holding the hands of the farming labourer. Honouring the nation-wide struggle of the kisan-labourers, Smt. Sonia Gandhi led-UPA government brought the ‘Fair Compensation Act, 2013’ in the Parliament and got it passed with the consent of all other political parties. It was the advent of a new decade where the farmer became the owner of the land and labourers working in the farms became the shareholders in the progress of the country. Country’s 80 crore farmlabourers now have a very strong weapon in their hands for the protection of their rights which was passed in the Parliament, that is the ‘Fair Compensation Act, 2013’. 2. In May, 2014 the government changed and Shri Narendra Modi got the chance. With the change of government, both the trust and ways of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have changed. There was a forcible attempt to dilute the land act of 2013 by

bringing the ordinance three times. As and when farmers and the Congress tried to request to avoid injustice, then and there the Modi government repeatedly suppressed the farmers and the Congress by bringing the ordinance. A decisive fight was fought in the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi. Victory was of the truth and Modi government lost. The farmers of the country won. The affect of the Modi government ordinance was broken. The Kisan Samman Rally proved a symbol of victory for the 80 crore farmers of the country. This was a victory for the farmer’s organization. This was a victory for all political parties of the country, who had supported this agitation. This was the victory of determination and strong belief of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. 3. Presently, India is struggling with the agro-problems. The farmer of the country is lying on the bed of thorns while Modiji is proudly speaking lies. Though idioms flow from the mouth of Prime Minister, but they lack dignity. There is a greed for propaganda and popularity, but there is no worry about the results. Modiji has neither understood the importance of democracy nor he can feel the pain of the farmers. The results are before you. After decades, within one year of Modi government, that is 2014-15 the agriculture has fallen flat on its face. In 2013-14, which means that during the Congress rule, the agro production was 2650 lakh tons. During the Modi government period, that is, in 2014-15 the agri production fell down by 123.60 lakh tons. The agri production in 2014-15 was 2520 lakh tons. The production of wheat has decreased by 60.91 lakh tons. The production of rice decreased by 10.85 lakh tons. The production of coarse grain fell down by 10.54 lakh tons. The production of cereals fell down by 20.05 lakh tons. In such a state the farmer is standing at the edge of destruction. For the first time the export of agri products has fallen down. On the one side the North-East Region of the country is

Congress Sandesh | 13 | September 2015

Briefing struggling against unseasonal rains and floods, on the other, South India is in the grip of severe drought. Thousands of farmers have committed suicides. Though, it may be flood or drought, the Modi government has not given a penny as help. Lakh of hectare of cotton production in the country was affected by the wrath of white fly and destroyed. The production of rice too had declined 15-20% due to unprecedented affect of unknown insect, but the government did not care for the farmers. Prime Minister who had promised before the elections to the farmers that they would get the cost of production plus 50% profit, has forgotten his principle of ‘MSP’ after coming to power. 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is just busy in changing names and is popularizing his slogans. He is cutting the ribbons of the projects started by the Congress like Mangalyaan to Metro and is asking the people as to what has been done in the past 60 years. They claim to open 18 crore accounts under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana, but they forget that the Congress government had already opened 24 crore accounts under the ‘Swabhiman Project’. The truth does not change by changing the name of ‘Swabhiman Project’ to Jan Dhan Yojana. Prime Minister claims to bring electricity in every villages of the country under the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Project’, but forgets to tell that this is just the changed name of the Congress’ ‘Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Project’, through which the Congress government had electrified 1,12,287 villages from 2007 to 2012. Prime Minister Modiji has launched the ‘Prime Minister Agro Irrigation Project’, but forgets that this is just the changed name of Congress’ ‘Accelerated Integration Benefit Programme, through which the Congress government had started 297 big and medium and 16,769 small irrigation projects from 2007 to 2012 on which Rs. 50,000 crores was spent and 94 lakh hectare of land was irrigated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’, but forgets that this is the changed name of ‘Soil Health and Fertility Scheme’ of the Congress, in which 500 lakh Soil Health cards are already issued. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that the Neem-Coated Urea is a new thought, but is forgetting that the Neem-Coated Urea Scheme is already under way in the country for the past 11 years. In August 2011, the Congress government had already made it mandatory that 35% of the production should be Neem Coated Urea. This country cannot run on bogus propaganda and cunningness but will move ahead by the honour of the farmers and the labour of the poor. This is the aim of the Kisan Samman Rally. v

continued from page 12

Congress stands with the farmers: Rahul Gandhi affected by the policy, whether they are labourers, farmers, the poor or small traders, you will not find them around Modiji. He will only speak his Mann Ki Baat with them. He will never ask you about your problems and hardships; how can the government help you? On one hand, he wants to take away your land and on the other he talks about Make in India. He told the youth to give him their land and he will provide jobs to them. We asked a question in Parliament. Modiji says that without land, Make in India can’t take place. Without land, manufacturing can’t happen in India. We asked a question that how many projects of development have stalled due to unavailability of land.His own government replies that only 8% of projects are stalled because of land-unavailability. There is no dearth of land. There is enough land belonging to the central as well as state governments. But they want to snatch your land. They talk about Make in India but don’t say anything about labourers. They want to tie the hands of workmen. There is a place called Alang in Gujrat. Ships, steamers and boats from all over the world come there. Ships are cut into pieces and after that steel, iron etc. are taken out and finally sold. I have met the labourers who work there. Several NGOs working there also made me aware with some facts. There is no law for labourers who are engaged in ship-cutting at Alang. A labourer is cutting on the one side and another is doing the same thing on the other side. If an iron-piece falls this side, then the labourers die. If it happens on the other side, once again the labourers die. Due to the presence of chemicals and radioactive materials in ships, labourers often get sick and ultimately they die. When their dead bodies are burnt, the presence of chemicals and radioactive materials prevents their bodies from burning entirely. In this way, labourers are destined to be dishonoured. Modiji says that Make in India is necessary. But there is no place for labourers and farmers in his Make in India. His Make in India is for those with whom he meets and talks. We don’t want such Make in India. The word ‘make’ means to build and ‘take’ means to snatch. It is not Make in India, it is, in fact, Modiji’s Take in India. He wants to snatch your land, your rights and at last you will get nothing. He has two or three chosen friends who will get everything. We will fight for farmers, for labourers and for your rights. What we have done for land, we will do it for labourers, for sugarcane farmers and for MSP. You all build India. We will never forget you. Your fight is our fight. Thanking you all. You came here from far and wide. Namaskaar. v

Congress Sandesh | 14 | September 2015

Comment

Agriculture sector in Indian economy can’t be overlooked

B

JP has been in power at the centre for the last one and half year. The whole country is watching in dismay what has this government achieved so far. PM Modi on every occasion, whether it is Maan Ki Baat or addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, counts numerous achievements of his government. But the reality is that the people of this country are facing acute hardships that have multiple dimensions. As far as the coverage in media is concerned, only controversies of this government have found a prominent place so far. BJP came to power promising corruption-free India and good days are about to come. The whole country is facing difficulties but the condition of the poor and the under-priviledged is going from bad to worse. While farmers are in deep distress, the poor are restless because of price-rise of essential commodities. It seems that PM Modi has forgot the fact that if this section of the population remains marginalized, the country can be anything but prosperous. Farmers and labourers is our strength. Agriculture has always played an important role for the economy of our country as well as in providing employment on a large scale. Even today, two-third of our population depends on agriculture. But under the present government, this sector is losing its shine and its contribution to our GDP is decreasing continuously. As a result, agriculture is affecting economy, employment and prices of essential commodities adversely. Recently, the high prices of onions and pulses have made lives of people miserable. The prices of cereals, fruits and vegetables have risen sharply. But who made profits? Whenever BJP comes to power, a network of middlemen and brokers becomes very active who with their play make windfall profits by blackmarketing and profiteering. Farmers never get the benefits of these increased prices. News of farmers-in-distress are coming from every nook and corner of the country. It has led the country in a state

of disappointment. Farmers who grow cotton are facing great difficulties. News of farmers committing suicides from Marathwada are coming at regular intervals. When India got freedom, our agriculture was in very poor condition. But the Congress Party understood the importance of this sector and its prime ministers initiated several landmark programmes to reform this sector. Improvement in data yearafter-year are the testimony of it. The whole scenario got a sea-change. Green revolution and white revolution not only provided employment to crores of people but made India selfdependent in grains also. Agri-sector became the backbone of our economy. Some data will make it clear. Every section of agri-sector witnessed progress. When in 2010, the data of World Agriculture Report was published, it proved a matter of celebration for Indian farmers. India was at the top in milk, fruit, vegetables and spices production. Apart from this, India secured second or third position in the production of all important cereals like rice, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, fish, egg etc. India also secured a place among top five big producing nations which produce 80% of grains and eatables. In 2010-11, India registered a record production of 85.8 million tons of wheat and 95.3 million tons of rice. In 2013, India exported agri-products valued at $39 billion. Our country became one among seven biggest agri-products exporters. It is interesting to know that in 2003, the export of agri-products was pegged at only $5 billion. It means that UPA governments have changed the whole scenario of agri-sector. But today, the prices of essential commodities are increasing. We are dependent on import from foreign countries for essential items like onions, pulses, edible oil etc. Farmers who grow these produce are unable to get even the cost price of the crops. Middlemen and money-lenders have made the lives of

Congress Sandesh | 15 | September 2015

Comment

Greetings on Eid-ul-Adha New Delhi : Hon’ble Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has extended her greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. She hoped that the holy festival brings peace and prosperity to all.

Another milestone for ISRO, deploys GSAT-6’s largest antenna Smt Sonia Gandhi has congratulated ISRO scientists

In another greeting message by the Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi, said “Eid Mubarak”  to everyone. May this day be filled with blessings and bring peace & prosperity to all Eid ul-Adha  “Festival of the Sacrifice” also called the  Feast of Sacrifice  or  Bakr-Eid, is the second of two  religious holidays  celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God’s command, but God then intervened, through his angel Jibra’il and informs him that his sacrifice has already been accepted. The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. The word “Eid” appears once in Al-Ma’ida, the fifth sura of the Quran, with the meaning “solemn festival”. v

New Delhi: Congress President, Smt Sonia Gandhi has congratulated scientists at ISRO for the successful launch of GSAT-6. Describing the launch as yet another proud moment, Smt. Gandhi said that this achievement of ISRO further established the organization’s impeccable record, built over years of hard work and dedication. The successful deployment of Defence Communication Satellite GSAT-6’s antenna on 31st August, 2015 marked yet another milestone for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) as it was the largest antenna made by them.

farmers so miserable and helpless that they are compelled to take extreme steps like suicides. Employment opportunities in agrisector have become scarce and as a result, unemployment in rural areas is increasing continuously. This anti-farmer and anti-poor government has become so insensitive that it has curtailed the budgetary support of the welfare schemes meant for the poor and the jobless which were initiated by UPA governments. For the last one and half year, the centre has probably failed to finalise any big scheme for the agri-sector but on the advice and suggestions of the corporate sector, it without making any delay organizes meetings and makes required policies. The importance of agriculture sector in Indian economy can’t be overlooked. Failing to observe the importance of farmers, farm labourers and other daily-wagers proves that the policies adopted by the central government lacks foresightedness. On the whole, it can be said that this government is following anti-poor policies and it has to face its repercussions in near future. v -Congress Sandesh

The size of the S-Band Unfurlable Antenna is six meter in diameter.  This is also the first time that an unfurable antenna is being used in an Indian communication satellite. The satellite was launched by India’s heavy rocket geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-Mark II (GSLV) and put into geo transfer orbit (GTO) on 27th August, 2015. An ISRO official as saying that the process of activating the massive antenna, which weighs around 43 kg, was deployed in two stages with the initial one lasting for about 4 minutes and second for 23 minutes. The antenna is one of the most advanced features of GSAT6 satellite and will be utilized for five spot beams over the Indian mainland, which exploit the frequency reuse scheme to increase frequency spectrum utilization efficiency. The satellite provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users. The satellite’s life expectancy is nine years. v

Congress Sandesh | 16 | September 2015

Bihar Assembly Elections

People of Bihar are always conscious and ready for their fight for respect and honour: Smt Sonia Gandhi

Grand Alliance Speech of the Congress President in Swabhimaan Rally, Gandhi Maidan, Patna on 30th August, 2015

M

(Translated from Hindi)

y pranaam to the glorious land of Bihar and its people with selfrespect. I have come here to be a companion of the people of Bihar; to provide them a strong edge in their fight for self-respect. It is the land of truth, peace and non-violence. It is the land of Lord Buddha and great emperor Ashoka. It is the land of great political personalities like Chandragupta and Chankya. It is the land of great guru, Guru Govind Singhji. It is the land of saints, peers, braves and patriots. It is the land of freedom fighters like Babu Kunwar Singh who sacrificed his life for the fight of self-respect. I am well aware of the fact that the people of Bihar are always conscious and ready for their fight for respect and honour. The people present here in large numbers have proved once again that they will safeguard their respect and honour at any cost. Brothers and Sisters, Some people take enjoyment when they look down upon

or disrespect Bihar. Whenever they get a chance, they try to mock Bihar and its people. At times, they mock the culture of Bihar, declare its DNA as defective and term Bihar as BIMARU. But the Congress has always respected the people of Bihar and honoured their talent, merit and self-respect. It is a historical fact that the Congress party has contributed immensely in order to get Bihar in its path of progress. During the Congress led UPA regime, a number of large projects were finalized and implemented on the basis of which and under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, Bihar progressed by leaps and bounds. Lalu Yadav also played a commendable role for Bihar’s development. But Bihar needs more financial assistance. It must be provided to Bihar. It is the right of Bihar. It is your right. It is not of anyone’s pity or charity. Brothers and Sisters, Modi government has crossed one-fourth period of its tenure. But what has been done except SHOW BAZI? The curtailment in MGNREGA funds has made people in villages unemployed in large numbers. There is a large scale curtailment in the welfare schemes meant for my sisters who are contributing as much as their Congress Sandesh | 17 | September 2015

male counterparts and for our children who are the future of our country. Our PM had promised to provide one crore jobs every year. What happened to that promise? This government has put a stop to the central government jobs; let alone creating new jobs. BJP through Vyapam scam has destroyed the future of lakhs of youth and spoiled their families. The PM had promised farmers that the government will fix MSP which will include the cost of crop growing and additional 50% of the cost. Modi government has done just opposite of it. Due to this, farmers across the country are in distress. This government is anti-farmer who wants to snatch land from farmers and then distribute it among a few rich friends. To safeguard the rights and interests of farmers of this country, we fought in and outside Parliament and at last this government has to withdraw. The people of Bihar along with the fellow countrymen have lost their faith in Modi government. On account of wrong policies adopted by the Modi government, the state of economy is going from bad to worse, prices of essential commodities are rising and the value of rupee is

Bihar Assembly Elections diminishing. Exactly two years ago, the BJP leader had said,” Today rupee has lost its glory; PM lost its glory.” I want to ask Has the glory of PM not nosedived?

Congress Vice President slams Modi for making ‘empty promises’

Earlier, PM Modi was in the habit of challenging Pakistan. Today, our soldiers are being killed on the border on day-to-day basis. Even civilians are being targeted. What is this government’s policy towards Pakistan? The whole country wants to know. What happened to his promise of corruption-free India? Whether it is Modigate or Vyapam, PM Modi has chosen to remain silent. Brothers and Sisters, You have to think. The PM by showing his 56 inch chest made so many hollow promises to the people of this country. He even today is making numerous promises, Can people have faith on these promises?

Ram Nagar (West Champaran): Blowing the party’s poll bugle from West Champaran, Congress Vice-President Shri Rahul Gandhi on 19th September, 2015 flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi government as “suit-boot ki sarkar” and also echoed someone from the crowd calling Mr. Modi “pheku” (braggart).

Brothers and Sisters, We have gathered here on one platform against BJP’s false promises and communal approach. The Congress has decided to fight this assembly elections in alliance with JDU and RJD. This grand alliance will fight against BJP led opportunistic coalition.

Kick-starting his party’s first poll rally billed as ‘Samrasta Sammelam’ at the sugar factory grounds at Ram Nagar in West Champaran, Shri Rahul Gandhi also took on Mr Modi on the issue of corruption and said the BJP-led NDA government was forced to withdraw the “land acquisition Bill” through which it wanted to take over lands of the poor.

Our progressive grand alliance has full faith in secular values; wants to develop goodwill among all castes and religions so that we can march forward on the path of progress with great conviction. We are of the opinion that those who are undeveloped or underdeveloped should be given more assistance so that they can stand on equal footing. That’s why this alliance is the true representative and the voice of the poor and the under privileged of all castes and communities.

Mahatma Gandhi had launched his Satygraha movement from the land of Champaran.

While Shri Gandhi was targeting Shri Modi for the latter’s failure to fulfil promises made during the last Lok Sabha poll. The Congress vice-president said initially Gandhiji wore a suit, then a shirt and finally switched dhoti (loincloth). “But, Modiji, I have heard, was selling tea during his childhood but today he wears suits worth Rs. 15 lakh and meets only those wearing suit and boot.” “This is a suit-boot ki sarkar and not of the poor and I this issue in Parliament as well”, said Shri Rahul Gandhi, cheers from the moderate crowd consisting youth. “If you want to to go to common do something to go to them and

have a clean India, people, if you for farmers if you

I have full-faith that in order to safeguard their self-respect, the people of Bihar will support overwhelmingly this grand alliance led by Nitish Kumar ji. Thanking you all, JAI HIND. v Congress Sandesh | 18 | September 2015

have raised drawing mostly of you have want to you have really want to provide employment to the youth, you have to talk to them,” said

Bihar Assembly Elections

Election, Manifesto Committees for Bihar

The Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has on 11th September, 2015 approved the list of Pradesh Election Committee and Manifesto Committee for ensuing Bihar Assembly election as enclosed, according to AICC General Secretary, Shri Janardan Dwivedi.

Congress Vice Presidentr Shri Gandhi. Attacking on Shri Modi, the Congress leader said he had promised to provide two crore jobs every year. “More than a year has passed, but how many of you have got the jobs? Have you got money in your bank account? Have they opened the closed sugar mills of Champaran which Modiji had promised during the elections?” Shri Rahul Gandhi also took on the government over corruption and raised issues such as the PDS scam in Chhattisgarh, the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh. He accused BJP leader Smt. Sushma Swaraj of going to the rescue of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and Rajasthan CM Smt. Vasundhra Raje Scindia having business relations with Lalit Modi. “But Modiji (the Prime Minister) says they have weeded out corruption.” “If the BJP comes to power some suit-boot-wearing people from Gujarat will come and take away your land…but be assured we’ll not allow it to happen,” announced Shri Rahul Gandhi. Appealing to people to vote for the Congress and the ‘maha gathbandhan (‘grand alliance’) in, he promised that if their government came to power, “it will give Rs. 4 lakh credit to young people for their education and 33 per cent reservation to women and work for the development of the poor.” v

List of Pradesh Election Committee, Bihar 1. Dr. Ashok Choudhary, President, Bihar PCC 2. Shri Sadanand Singh, Leader, CLP Bihar 3. Dr. Madan Mohan Jha, MLC 4. Smt. Meira Kumar, Ex-Speaker, Lok Sabha 5. Dr. Shakil Ahmad, General Secretary, AICC 6 Shri Nikhil Kumar, Ex-MP 7 Smt. Ranjeet Ranjan, MP 8 Moh. Asraural Haque,MP 9. Shri Anil Kumar Sharma, Ex. President, Bihar PCC 10. Dr. Ashok Kumar, Ex. CLP Leader 11. Dr. Akhilesh Singh, Ex. Union Minister 12 Shri Kripanath Pathak, Ex-Minister 13 Shri Awadhesh Kumar Singh, Ex. Minister 14. Dr. Md. Javed, MLA 15. Shri Brajesh Kumar Pandey, Vice-President, BPCC 16. Smt. Amita Bhushan, President, BPCC 17. Shri Kumar Ashish Vice-President, BPCC 18. Shri Santosh Srivastav President, BPCC 19. Shri Sumit Kumar Sunny President, NSUI List of Pradesh Manifesto Committee 1. Prof. Ram Jatan Sinha, Ex-President, Bihar PCC (Chairperson) 2. Shri Vijay Shankar Dubey, Ex-CLP leader 3. Dr. Jyoti, Ex-MLC 4. Shri Prem Chandra Mishra, Vice-President, BPCC 5. Shri Pravin Singh Kushwaha, Vice-President, B PCC 6. Smt. Laxmi Paswan, Ex-MLC 7. Shri Chandan Yadav, GS, Bihar PCC 8. Shri Ranjeet Kumar Mishra, Spokesperson, BPCC 9. Shri Pradeep Chaudhary, Convener, Research and Communication, Bihar PCC 10. Shri Nagendra Kumar Vikal, Chairman, Bihar PCC SC Deptt. 11. Shri Minnat Rahmani, Chairman, Bihar PCC Minority Deptt.

Congress Sandesh | 19 | September 2015

CP’s Visit

Sonia Gandhi strongly attacks Modi for being quiet on Vyapam and Lalitgate Congress President visits Rai bareily on public-oriented cause Rae Bareily: In a democracy to lead the people of any area and to fulfill your responsibility as their representative is a healthy tradition. National President of the Congress Party is an example of this tradition and this ideal of hers joins the Congress Party with the people. The people of Raibareily due to these reasons have made the Congress Party their crown. National President of the Congress Party, Smt. Sonia Gandhi was on a two-day visit on 11 and 12 September, 2015 here and landed at the Fursatganj Airport and got busy with her two-day programme of her visit. The first thing she did was to unveil the statue of a legend and former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi at the District Panchayat Bhawan and thereafter got busy with other work in her constituency. First of all, she presided over the meeting of District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee at the Bachat Bhawan of the Collectorate, by which the facilities related to the important problems of the people will be resolved. The first issue was the absence of ambulance and toilet facility on the Lucknow-Raibarely highway. The condition of road on this highway is also not good and there are pot-holes here and there. To repair the condition of the highway and to restore those facilities, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has set a deadline of 31st October for the administration and warned them that if those facilities were not restored by the set deadline, the recovery of Toll Tax would be stopped. Meanwhile, private secretary of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Dheeraj Srivastav did inspection of Dharamdaspur and Sultan Khedi schools and found many irregularities. In these schools mid-day meals was not being given, there was no water in the toilets. Taking cognisance of the matter, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that mid-day meals should be started in

Congress Sandesh | 20 | September 2015

CP’s Visit

the schools and provision be made to fill water in the tanks in the toilets immediately. If there is any financial problem then the administration can have it from here MPLad fund. Party President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi had received a message that this district has water problem in a big way. The major reason for this is the closed borewells. For this she asked the Electricity Department, Water Department and the Borewell Department to set up a coordinated task force and solve this problem and directed that, if need be, then stabilizer may also be installed. Under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana, the budget allocation for the repair of Railbareily roads is just Rs. 4 crores and which is not enough. Taking strong objection to this, Smt. Sonia Gandhi blamed the Prime Minister of being biased and passed a resolution of condemnation against him. How much Smt. Sonia Gandhi cares for her party workers and this was known by an example when after the death of senior Congress leader, Shri Amresh Chandra Srivastav, she went to his house to console the grieving family. Thereafter, Smt. Gandhi had a political meeting with members of the party organization at the Bhumau Rest House and gave them important directions. Congress Party President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi started the second day of her visit to her constituency by meeting the local people and sent a message as to how important it is to

meet with the people in a democracy. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, visited the house of District Congress General Secretary Premchand Pal Singh Gulati to express her condolences on the death of his mother Shakuntala Devi who passed away on 17 July. Her graceful presence made the members of the Gulati family emotional. The father of Shri Gulati, late Harpal Singh was a senior leader of the Congress Party. He was the lifelong chief of the Harchandpur Block. Shri Harpal Singh served as the District President of the Congress, was also the Chairman of the Cooperative Bank and the Chairman of the Hindustan Paper Corporation. After all these programmes, Smt. Gandhi met the media and strongly attacked Narendra Modi for being quiet on Vyapam and on Lalit Gate. Thereafter, Smt. Gandhi returned to Kiloli village where three villagers who had died were returning from Ganga Snan (holy dip in the Ganga) in a trolley which overturned and many villagers got injured. She prayed for the peace for the soul of those dead and assured all help to those admitted in hospital. She also consoled the relatives of those who were connected with this incident. On the whole this visit of the Congress Party President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi was limited to public well-being and social concern and it carried many farsighted messages for the people of Raibareily. v

Congress Sandesh | 21 | September 2015

VP’s Visit A Report

Rahul Gandhi Meets Victims of Pak Firing in Jammu and Kashmir · Strengthening of panchayats in J&K was necessary to bring peace to the state · No ‘Leniency’ for Congress Leaders Damaging Party’s Electoral Prospects. Jammu:  AICC Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi visited Balakote area of Mendhar in Poonch on 26th August, 2015, met families of the victims of Pakistan shelling. Six persons were killed and several others were injured in the heightened shelling from across the border on 15th August, 2015. “I came here to talk with them and listen to their grievances... There are many people here who are standing for India, so India should also stand for them,” said Shri Rahul Gandhi.  While interacting with the families of those martyred and injured in the shelling from across the border, Shri Rahul Gandhi expressed grief and sorrow and told them that he has come to share their pain and sufferings. He expressed his sympathies and solidarity with them. The victim families and other residents near LoCdescribed their woes and hardships being faced by them, who live under constant threat to their lives and loss to their properties. Their houses get damaged, livestock become the target and the crops get destroyed and they are not able to cultivate their lands. Their children also suffer on account

of disruption of educational activities and other normal activities due to constant fear. They demanded insurance cover to their lives and property including safe shelters for their living. Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi while expressing concern over their plight and sufferings justified their demands and demanded that the government of India and State government should take positive steps in this direction. He praised their valour and described them as unarmed soldiers of the country. He assured them that Congress party would do everything possible to raise their concern and support their demands. Responding to media queries about BJP’s charge that Congress is politicizing border situation, Shri Gandhi said that it is unfortunate that BJP see politics in it, when we come to share the grief and pain of the victims and raise the voice about their sufferings. He said that BJP leadership made tall claims in this regard during elections but forget to fulfill.   He took a gibe at the Prime Minister for his silence over various commitments and promises made to the people during election campaign, be it border situation, terrorism or issues of corruption and impropriety of their leaders in various matters and the promise of transferring Rs. 15 lakhs to the bank accounts of eachcountryman by bringing back black money. Later interacting with the representatives of Panchayats from across Jammu region here at Jammu, Shri Gandhi listened to their views and experiences about the present functioning of the Panchayati Raj in the State. Various representatives from all over Jammu Province expressed their views and charged the present Govt. of totally neglecting the Panchayats in their functioning. They expressed gratitude to Shri Rahul

Congress Sandesh | 22 | September 2015

VP’s Visit Gandhi for the support extended by him and the Congress party for incorporating the provisions of 73rd amendment in the State Panchayat Raj Act. Addressing the gathering AICC Vice President underlined the importance of PRI in this State and said that an empowered Panchayat Raj means strengthening the democracy at the grass root level and ensuring the participatory democracy which is essential for achieving everlasting peace in this State and addressing the developmental needs of the people at the lowest levels. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said that strengthening of panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir was necessary to bring peace to the state. “I want to tell you that if you want peace in Jammu and Kashmir, it can be brought by Panchayati Raj because it is the grass-root level democracy in a state,” Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi said while addressing members of panchayats and corporators at a conference in Jammu.   Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi urged them to strengthen Congress party and the values and principles it stands  for, which means strengthening the bonds of unity and brotherhood. He reiterated the commitment of the Congress party to fully empower and further strengthen Panchayat Raj in the State.

However he said everyone has to understand the difference between inner party democracy and indiscipline. Everyone in the party has to understand this in order to strengthen the party. Responding to a question about the internal fight in party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, the Congress vice-president said he had not seen “this kind of energy” in Jammu so far and added that Congress was a democratic party. “We believe in allowing people to speak unlike our opponent, the BJP where only one gentleman is allowed to speak, only one gentleman is allowed to say what he feels. Only one gentleman is allowed to make promises and only one gentleman who is allowed to break promises,” the Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi said.

No ‘Leniency’ for Congress Leaders engaged in factionalism and anti-party activities or Damaging Party’s Electoral Prospects

“Those who damage the prospects of the party during elections do not deserve leniency,” Shri Rahul Gandhi said during an interaction with state Congress leaders, district and block presidents and representatives of frontal organisations of the party in Jammu.   Shri Rahul Gandhi later met a number of delegations representing different sections of the society which included representatives from Chamber & Industry, Lawyers, Displaced Persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Farmers, Kashmiri migrants, residents of border areas and exservicemen demanding  One Rank One Pension (OROP).   He also held interaction with the leaders of PCC, Dist. Presidents, Block Presidents and representatives of Frontal Organizations of the party at ‘Vedas Hall’. He told the party men that unlike in the BJP, the Congress has the tradition of inner party democracy and the leaders and workers have the liberty to express the voice in an appropriate manner. Congress Sandesh | 23 | September 2015

VP’s Visit

Secretary AICC I/C J&K Ambika Soni and PCC Chief G. A. Mir, Senior Party Leaders, MLA, MLCs. Congress Vice President visited shrine of Mir Baba Haider Tulmulla and paid obeisance. He was greeted by  locals, they also apprised theCongress Vice President about the problems confronting them. Congress Vice President also visited Hazratbal Shrine and paid obeisance there. He spent some time there and prayed for    progressand development of the State and people. Congress Vice President alsointeracted with the local people and exchanged greetings. In July, Congress had suspended three senior leaders from the party for alleged anti-party activities.The decision was taken by the party’s central disciplinary committee, headed by former Defence Minister Shri AK Antony.

Congress Vice President also visited Bal Ashram at Ishber (Nishat) and had a brief interaction with children. Congress Vice President was accorded a warm welcome by the CongressParty workers and leaders at Congress Headquarter Srinagar, he also spent some time at party

He assured the workers that the genuine and dedicated workers connected with the people at grass roots would be encouraged within the party.   Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by AICC General Secretary, Incharge J&K affairs Smt. Ambika Soni and JKPCC President Shri Ghulam Ahmed Mir during his visit. All India Youth Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Barar was also present in the functions.

Successful Three-day tour of Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi

Srinagar: On the third day of tour to Jammu and Kashmir, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Khir Bhavani Temple Tulmulla (Ganderbal) and paid obeisance 28th August, 2015 morning, he was accompanied by General

Office and interacted with the Workers. While on way to Airport Congress Vice President stopped at Maisuma and had tea at a roadside tea stall, he also spent sometime in the busy centre, AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni & PCC Chief accompanying Congress Vice President also joined him on tea. On this occasion Congress Vice President interacted with locals and exchanged greetings. Senior Party leaders, MLAs, MLCs were present to see off CongressVice President at Srinagar Airport. They also thanked Congress Vice President for touring the State. Terming Rahul Gandhi’s three day visit very successful, JKPCC President Shri Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that Congress Vice President’s  tour remained  remarkable and morale boosting for Party Cadres. v

Congress Sandesh | 24 | September 2015

Vice President’s Odisha Visit

A Report

Rahul Gandhi blames Modi, Naveen for agrarian crisis ‘Save Farmers’ padayatra taken out by him generates massive public response ATTABIRA (ODISHA) : Congress Vice-President Shri Rahul Gandhi on 10th September, 2015 accused both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for pursuing ‘flawed’ policies which perpetuated agrarian crisis in the State. The ‘Kisan Bachao Padayatra (Save Farmers’ March), taken out by Shri Rahul Gandhi, generated huge public response in Bargarh district, which witnessed spate in farmer suicides in recent months, the state’s top riceproducing district

of Sanand Pakha, who killed himself for being unable to sell his crops/ produce. The Congress Vice President dwelled at great length on recurring farmer suicides, holding the Modi government responsible for the crisis. Noting that farm loans to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore had been waived during UPA rule, Rahul said farmers needed support in the form of irrigation, fertilisers and other items for raising crops properly.  But the NDA government had been paying little attention to their needs and

“Modiji and Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik are friends, let me warn them that farmers, Dalits and tribals won’t be exploited, we won’t let it happen,” he said while addressing villagers at Badhal village where a farmer had committed suicide in June last. Most of the deaths have been reported in Bargarh district, the latest being the suicide of a 24-year-old farmer on 9th September, 2015. More than 3,600 farmers, including 474 women, had committed suicide in Odisha since 1999, Shri Rahul Gandhi began his padayatra (march) by meeting family members Congress Sandesh | 25 | September 2015

farmers were now asking when will the “achhe din”, which had been promised to them by Modi before the 2014 general elections come, he said. “When will the achche din come for the farmers?” he asked. “He(Modi) has made promises. He is good at making promises, probably no.one. But he failed to fulfill even one,” he said. “Our party had always been with farmers and labourers and reformed the old land acquisition law by bringing in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,

Vice President’s Odisha Visit farmers as well as farm labourers have to be compensated adequately. Modiji said there was no need to seek farmers’ consent to take their land away.” The Congress leader didn’t spare the ruling, BJD in Odisha either, saying it was hand in gloves with the NDA government. When questions on farmers’ plight are posed to Mr. Modi and Mr. Patnaik, they do not have any answer, he said. Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to protect them,” he told a gathering at Bargarh. But the Modi government tried to change the law thrice to snatch away

farmers’ land and give them to big businesses, he said. “We said farmers’ land could not be taken away without their consent and if land is acquired with their consent,

The Naveen Patnaik government had received huge Central funds, but benefits had not reached farmers, tribal and labourers, he said. The Congress leaders also took pot shot at the BJD government by raising chit fund scam. Shri Rahul Gandhi covered a distance of seven-km long stretch on National Highway 6 under scorching heat with thousands of farmers and their family members waving to him. He halted at three places during his padayatra and everywhere he raised farmers’ sufferings and how the malady was getting acute by the days. Showing no sign of wilting under the Sun, the Gandhi scion continued his fast-paced walks while most of the Congress leaders were running to keep pace with the former. Shri Rahul Gandhi went inside Sevashram School, Laderpali where he was surrounded by tiny school students. Congress Vice President Shri Raahul Gandhi spent nearly 30 minutes on the school premises and listened songs sung by students. He quizzed teachers about basic facilities available in the school. In the evening, the Congress vice-president interacted with intellectuals hailing from Sambalpur and Bargarh at Ashoka Niwas at Burla. v

Congress Sandesh | 26 | September 2015

viewpoint

Why Modi’s Reforms Lie in Tatters

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hat dire consequences the Finance Minister had predicted if his government’s land acquisition Ordinance were not passed. Rural infrastructure would not be built! Rural industrialization would come to a full-stop!! Rural development would be strangled!!! No one bought the argument except the government and its clapper boys. Now their own organizations have forced them to beat a retreat. The land acquisition Ordinance, first promulgated in December 2014, was left to lapse on the last day of August. The only law on land acquisition that remains on the statute books is the UPA’s 2013 law - the very law castigated by the BJP till the last day of August as antifarmer, anti-development, anti-sabka saath, sabka vikas. Well, if any of the nonsense we have been hearing over the last nine months from Jaitley & Co had any validity, it is now the BJP government that is anti-farmer, anti-development, anti-sabka saath, sabka vikas. What a denouement for the Modi model! For make no mistake. The lapsing of the Ordinance is a repudiation of the Gujarat Model of Development. It was that model that was touted through the 2014 Lok Sabha election as the blueprint for India’s future development. It was that model that bewitched the electorate into handing Modi an absolute majority. It was that which seduced Moody’s into raising India a notch up from “stable” to “positive”. The Gujarat model was essentially based on guaranteeing investors, particularly big investors, land dirt cheap or even free if they brought in their shekels. Modi was completely uncaring about who would get displaced. If Big Business wanted land, he would gift it to them. The whole of Gujarat became a kind of Modi land bank where, using his clout as CM, he poured land bounties on the country’s richest captains of industry so that they would help him realize his dream of Vibrant Gujarat.

Since he had ridden to power on the social polarization he wrought in 2002, Modi had the confidence that his  gaddi  would remain in tact irrespective of the thumbs down to him given by the two worst-affected sections of Gujarat society: the tribals who were deprived of their land (the erstwhile Planning Commission Manishankar Aiyar, MP estimated that the tribals, constituting about 8 percent of Gujarat’s population, comprised a humongous 76 percent of those driven off their land); and, of course, the Muslims. These two segments remained steadfast in their opposition to Modi, it being estimated by the polling agency, Cicero, that over 70 percent of these segments voted against Modi in the 2012 state assembly elections, the election that catapulted him into contender for the Premiership. But so effectively had Modi consolidated the non-Muslim, non-tribal vote that by tom-tomming Gujarat’s growth rates, he was able to mislead voters into believing that what Gujarat thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. He was also greatly boosted by the Sardar Sarovar multipurpose irrigation project, a project conceived decades ago, launched by Rajiv Gandhi in the late eighties, crucially supported by PV Narasimha Rao when in the mid-90s the World Bank withdrew out of sensitivity to the concerns raised by Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan, and inaugurated on the eve of Modi taking office. Of course, the immediate impact of water for the first time ever reaching parched fields was that even as industry was taking off from forcibly acquired land, agriculture went into an upward spin and created the illusion that there was magic in the Modi model. There was no more an ardent believer in the Modi magic than Modi himself. He leaped on to the

Congress Sandesh | 27 | September 2015

View point national bandwagon and found himself in Race Course Road on the morrow of the elections. However, long before Modi became a serious PM candidate (in anyone’s eyes but perhaps his own), the country’s farmers were deeply disturbed at the way the 1894 land acquisition legislation, amended decisively in 1962 and 1984 to favour the acquirer over the acquiree, was spreading alarm over property rights all over rural India. Taking the amendments as their license to loot, state governments, over the three decades leading to Bhatta Parsaul, used their virtually dictatorial powers to usurp the property rights of the tribals and peasant class, not only depriving millions of forest-dwellers and small and marginal owners of their land, but also throwing tens of millions out of their traditional livelihood. This came starkly to light in 2010 at Bhatta Parsaul in the neighbourhood of Delhi alerting, the political class to a brewing crisis that would brook no delay. And thus arose the 2013 Act, scrapping the previous morethan-century-old legislation and replacing it with a more humane Act that recognized the human consequences of forcible land acquisition. I was a member of the standing committee that scrutinized the draft legislation under the very able and fair leadership of chairperson Sumitra Mahajan, now the Hon’ble Speaker. Our suggestions were even more radical than the original thrust of Jairam Ramesh’s draft. In particular, we sought to ensure that the last word would lie with the Gram Sabha and the Panchayats so that community involvement would be total; and the individual in danger of losing his property or his employment would have the backing of the entire village community to secure his rights as a citizen of the country and a human being entitled to compassion. Many of the committee’s suggestions were rejected by the Manmohan Singh government as being too far out. But that helped bring Arun Jaitely and the BJP round to accepting the Ramesh version with a few changes induced by the standing committee. By early 2013, largely through hectic consultations between Government and the Opposition, a draft had been prepared which found all-round acceptance. And thus the new land acquisition law came into being virtually unanimously, with Jaitley and the BJP very much on board. Nothing was rushed or roughly pushed. Everything was agreed upon after due deliberation. The 2013 Act was as much the result of Congress compromise as it was of BJP acquiescence. While it is true that Narendra Modi, as CM Gujarat, was not party to the Parliament consensus, the fact remains that the BJP Parliamentary Party was fully consulted and eventually accepted the consensus.

assiduously promoted as his principal election plank. Fudging facts and fiddling the figures, Modi’s voice became so dominant as the election progressed and the Rajdeep Sardesais grew so enamoured of this new rhetoric that apart from skeptical academics in The Economic & Political Weekly and such little-read journals, however exalted their intellectual stature, the country (or at least 31 percent of the voters) was led into believing that such Modi-fied economic policies would take us to the Valhalla of sabka saath-sabka vikas. So what was this new formula? As MK Venu points out in a perceptive blog worth reading, it consisted essentially of three magic wands. One, unfettered land acquisition to bring in Big Boy investment both from India and abroad. Second, radical undermining of current labor laws to promote “hireand-fire”. Third, a Goods and Services Tax to transform the whole country into a single common market. 500 days into office, Modi is discovering that what seemed obvious to him in Ahmedabad does not appear quite so obvious in Delhi. Ironically, it was principally his unyielding opposition as Chief Minister Gujarat to the Goods and Services Bill 2011 that scuppered Pranab Mukherjee’s initiative. Modi had to go into complete U-turn for GST to suddenly become the BJP’s touchstone for faster growth. Now he and Jaitley find themselves stymied by Congress’ better understanding of what kind of GST is required to really accelerate economic growth - no GST is better than a poorly-drafted GST. We’ll explain that to them once they start consulting us as earnestly as Jairam Ramesh did with them over the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Modi’s proposed changes to labour laws led to such a furious reaction in organized labour circles, including the BJP’s own trade union wing, that the labour reforms he sought in mid-2014 soon after becoming PM had to be postponed to bring the Sangh Parivar on board. The BJP’s union might have been dissuaded from participation in the nation-wide labour strike on  September 2 against the proposed amendments, but the BJP union remains firm in its opposition to the changes in labour laws that the Modi government wants to bring in. And now comes the humiliation of having to eat humble pie over the land acquisition legislation. The Modi model lies in tatters. And the Patidar agitation in his home state shows that the Modi model is being challenged even in Gujarat. The countdown has begun. The evidence of this will be seen in Bihar. v (Mani Shankar Aiyar is a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha.)

During the campaign, Modi came to believe that the vote for him was a vote for the Gujarat model that he had so Congress Sandesh | 28 | September 2015

Courtesy: NDTV

Analysis

Not Just OROP. Another Grave Injustice For Army

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ith all the understandable (and justified) focus on OROP, the media appears to have missed another major development in the Ministry of Defence - a decision to extend Short Service Commissions for 14 years. This is a gross injustice, and it is all the more difficult to understand in light of the Defence Minister’s response to a question I raised in the Lok Sabha on December 12, 2014 (verbatim exchange follows): “Madam Speaker, the issue of recruitment and the shortage of officers in our country is now widely known. But the Army appears to be addressing this by extending the duration of Short Service Commissions in a way that is doing an injustice to the officers concerned. In the old days, you would have a five-year commission. You would then leave and you would still be in the prime of your life; you would be able to find a job and move on. Today, they are making these officers stay for 10 years, 11 years, even 14 years. These are people who have no pension; they have no benefits. They leave the Army late and, as a result, they are not in a position thereafter to actually resume life in the civilian sector. I would like the Defence Minister to explain what the policy is now on Short Service Commissions. I would like to know whether the Government has begun extending these unobtrusively at the expense of the civil rights of the officers concerned. If they are going to do so, whether it would not be fairer to give them all the benefits that a normal officer would be entitled to, pensions included? Thank you, Madam, Speaker.” The Minister for Defence, Manohar Parrikar, replied as follows (again verbatim transcript from the parliamentary proceedings): “Madam, I entirely agree with the hon. Member. Whatever was the original concept of the Short Service Commission is being totally put upside down by extending it to 14 years. In fact, I had a discussion on this issue. We are trying to address

this issue very shortly. We will definitely take care of this concept. There was 17 per cent shortage of officers by the year 2012. As of now, we are recruiting more officers. Every year, we are addressing one per cent. So, we are coming down by one per cent every year. I expect that by another ten years, we should be able to ultimately fill up the vacant posts. As Shashi Tharoor, MP far as the Short Service Commission is concerned, I will definitely address this issue because I am also concerned with the same issue. I have asked for more details. There is some reasoning given by them. Give me some time. I think, in a couple of months, I should be able to address this issue. I understand your concern. The same concern was expressed by me. You are virtually suggesting to convert them into a regular Commission by taking it to 14 years. The original idea was different.” That’s the point. The original idea behind the Short Service Commission was a good one: it kept the armed forces young, gave men and women in their 20s an opportunity to experience military life, while allowing them to have the satisfaction of serving our motherland in their youth and going on to pursue other careers thereafter. Those Short Service Commission officers who sought it could seek a Permanent Commission, but few got one and the vast majority were supposed to move on to other careers outside the Forces. This is why the Short Service Commission was genuinely short - five years in your 20s added to your experience without making a major dent in your life or career plans. But there has been a gradual extension of the five year period to seven, ten, and now fourteen. As a former officer who brought the problem to my attention observed to me, “The SSC ceased to be short when it was made minimum 7 years. It became exploitative when made minimum 10 years. Now that the

Congress Sandesh | 29 | September 2015

ANALYSIS minimum service is 14 years, it is just abuse of the youth.” As this former officer, Mr Balakrishna, argues, “Anything more than 7 years should be treated as a career option. And a career cannot end abruptly after 10 or 14 years.”

in the civil services or in public sector undertakings, as the age limit at entry is 30 years (a relaxation of five years is sometimes granted for Ex-Service personnel, but at 35 that prospect also disappears).

The charge of exploitation or even abuse is not exaggerated. I recently received a heart-rending email from a Navy Lieutenant on a Short Service Commission, who shall remain nameless since he is still in service and I do not want him to be open to reprisals. I am quoting from it in his own language (without editing the English) to convey his genuine anguish: “The charter of duties are same [sic] for SSC officers as of PC officers. If duties are same then why there is a huge difference in benefits. We SSC officers will be out from the service at 10 or 14 yrs. At that stage we will be at critical stage we don’t have any further exposure of outside world. We SSC are neither entitled for pension, ECHS and membership of any club. ...All benefits is [sic] only for permanent commission officer and the other ranks who does minimum 15 yrs of service and gets all facilities. If we are also relieved at the same age bracket then why this discrimination. Dear sir it is a sad state of affairs, all veterans are busy in asking OROP, but they left their brothers behind who had also spent their prime young time with them. ... Most of us has [sic] just started our families. Few are about to become fathers. Sir we are also human being and did nothing wrong while joining service enthusiastically but some where it is getting diminished... Our future is at stake.”

As young officers who joined the services in the first flush of idealistic enthusiasm wake up to these realities, disenchantment sets in. Our country cannot afford demoralization among SSCOs after a few years of service. Worse, the Government is beset with a large number of ongoing legal cases and representations against the evident discrimination in terms of grant of financial and other benefits on release.

It is time that, as a nation, we thought about the human beings who don uniforms to keep us safe. After 14 years of service, SSCOs would retire at the age of around 36-40 years, the time when job/financial security matters the most. By this age, most would have married and have school-going children; this is likely to be the case also for those released after 10 years. The chances of a Permanent Commission are minimal for most of the SSCOs; indeed the policy on granting Permanent Commission is very vague and decisions are left to the discretion - sometimes the whim - of the senior Officers concerned. Those in the executive branches of the navy and air force are not granted Permanent Commissions even if their performance has been better than their fellow officers who are permanently commissioned. It is a criminal waste of India’s human resources that young officers, welltrained, qualified, medically fit, and willing to serve, are simply let go because they were hired under one category rather than another. In fact many choose to extend their service to 14 years because of the uncertainty of a second career. And where can they go? There are no special provisions for them, and the existing rules don’t help. Former SSCOs who are 36-40 years old will not be eligible to most of the Group A equivalent positions

The solution is simple. Keep Short Service Commissions short: in and out in five years, no further obligations on either side. But for those who wish to continue further in service and whom the armed forces consider good enough to keep - they should be converted to a status that gives them the same benefits and entitlements as permanent commissioned officers of equivalent experience. This would make the SSCO both a platform to give motivated young people an opportunity to experience military life, and an alternative route to filling the ranks of military officers and curing the chronic shortages our armed forces are suffering from. Those who quit after five years (typically in the age group of 27-30 years when the pressures of family are much lower and the appetite for risk is higher) will not find it difficult to embark on a second career; indeed the experience will stand them in good stead in landing a job. And these Officers can be ambassadors of Armed Forces in their second career and attract more youth to join the services. As for those who stay on for 10 and even 14 years, the government should pay a pro-rata pension and related benefits, based on the length of service. The government should also consider making arrangements for lateral entry into the Civil Services, the Central Armed Police Forces, or public sector undertakings, relaxing the rules that prevent this from being an option. If the Defence Minister really meant what he said in his impromptu answer to me in Parliament, he should review the decision of his bureaucrats to perpetrate an injustice upon the brave young women and men who protect our nation with their lives. v (Dr Shashi Tharoor is a two-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development and the former UN Under-Secretary-General. He has written 15 books, including, most recently, India Shastra: Reflections On the Nation in Our Time.)

Congress Sandesh | 30 | September 2015

Messages

Haj stampede claims over 700 lives near holy city

2 Indians die in Crane Mishap in Mecca’s Grand Mosque

New Delhi: A huge stampede killed at least 717 people and injured hundreds more at the Haj in Saudi Arabia on 24th September, 2015 in one of the worstever tragedies at the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

New Delhi:  Two Indians have been killed and 15 others injured in the crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca in which more than 100 people have died. When a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque, days before the annual haj pilgrimage. A part of the massive crane collapsed as a result of strong winds and heavy rains. 

The stampede, the second deadly accident to hit the pilgrims this month following a crane collapse in Mecca, broke out during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual. The stampede began at around 9:00 am, it was dealing with a “crowding” incident in Mina, about five kilometers from Mecca. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had converged on Mina on 24th September, 2015 to throw pebbles at one of the three walls representing Satan, for the last major ritual of the Haj. Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep shock and distress over the deaths and injuries in a stampede in Makkah. Smt. Sonia Gandhi prayed for the well-being of the pilgrims and hoped that the Indian citizen in Mina were safe. In a separate message, Congress Vice President said “Extremely sad to learn of the stampede in Mecca. My deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this tragic incident.” v

In a condolence message Shri Rahul Gandhi said “Extremely saddened to learn of the tragic crane accident at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. My prayers are with the bereaved families”. v

18 Killed as Bus Falls Into Gorge in Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi : Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has expressed shock and anguish at the tragic bus accident in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Offering her deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, Smt. Gandhi hoped that immediate and adequate relief was being provided to the victims. At least 18 people were killed and 12 others injured on 1st September, 2015 after a private bus rolled down a 200-metre gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district ahead of Rampur. The bus was on its way from Rekong Peo to Rampur town when the accident occurred near Nathpa, some 180 km from Shimla. The bus skidded off the road. v

Explosion kills 89 at Petlawad town in Madhya Pradesh

More than Eighty-nine people were killed and more than 100 injured when mining explosives stored in a building went off in Petlawad town in Jhabua of Madhya Pradesh on 12th September, 2015. The building in which the explosives were stored and an adjacent restaurant were destroyed and several houses damaged. In a message, Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has expressed distress at the loss of several lives following a gas cylinder explosion in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. Offering her deepest condolences to the families of deceased, Smt. Sonia Gandhi hoped that immediate treatment and adequate relief was being provided to the victims. In another message, Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi said “My deepest condolences to families who lost loved ones in the gas cylinder explosion in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. Extremely tragic and unfortunate incident.” v Congress Sandesh | 31 | September 2015

Comment

Communalizing Culture

The Real Agenda of the BJP

Introduction

One of the pillars of Indian unity has always been its syncretic and pluralist culture that through the centuries has allowed our diverse religions and ethnic groups to live together in peace and harmony. This right to practice one’s faith without the fear of persecution, the freedom to express divergent ideas and hold diverse opinions all flow from our basic Indian ethos of openness and respect for human ideas. Indian thought has always interacted with the universe of ideas and broadened and expanded human creativity and invention. As far back as the period of the Mauryas, a thousand and more years ago, Indian art, the Gandhara school that first creates the brilliant stone representations of Buddha, evolves from the extensive collaboration between Greek and Indian craftsmanship. The arrival of theSyrian Christians as far back as the 1 century AD introduced this faith to India. The Parsisfled persecution in Iran andfound a home in India. Muslims further enriched the arts, crafts and languages of the sub-contintent. Tansen, one of India’s greatest musicians was a Navrattana in the court of Akbar just like Dara Shikoh translates the Bhagvada Gita into Persian. And more recently, the Tibetan diaspora has also made India its home and enriched further our great traditions of spirituality and cohabitation with diversity. Indianculture has always been a vast ocean, absorbing the currents of human endeavor, passing them on in turn,and molding an ever richer tapestry of world culture.This plurality, already inherent in our indigenous culture was further guaranteed by the secular character of the Indian Constitution that was written under the chairmanship of one of India’s greatest intellectuals Bhim Rao Ambedkar and implemented in letter and spirit by Prime Minister Nehru. This respect for diversity of culture remained the hall mark of Indian society and the mainstay of its stability.

las thisharmony and brotherhood of centuriesamongst our communities and our vibrant traditions of science and democracy are now under serious threat. For the first time in India’s independent history we see a government in power whose main levers of decision making are Dr Ravni controlled by the RSS, an organization Thakur that claims to represent Hinduism and has decided to tell us what Hindu faith means, how we should behave what we should eat. This is an organization that was banned by Sardar Patel, India’s first home minister after their fringe elements were implicated in the assassination of Mahatama Gandhi. These elements today want to build a statue of Nathuram Godse because they have always hated Gandhiji, Nehruji and the principles of modernity, science and individual human rights.

Turning Myth into History

The RSS’s attempt has always been to rewrite Indian history, overhaul the scientific and modern education system that has allowed India to play a leading role in the post Independent comity of nations.Their first attack has been India’s history text books to show case India and Indian civilization not according to archeological or textual facts but to suit their ideology. Above all, they want to rewrite the history of our Independence struggle to destroy the role played by the Congress. The RSS has an ideology that seeks to privilege ancient India above all and sees all modern scientific and economic developments, whether they come from the West or from Islam, as inherently inferior and damaging to this idea of Indian culture that they claim to be the ‘authentic’ Indian culture.For them

Congress Sandesh | 32 | September 2015

Comment there is no difference between history and myth.They want to return India to its past not build on our past for a better future. Instead of inculcating a scientific spirit, they want us to believe that ancient India was the repository of all knowledge. This will fundamentally hamper our belief in rational and experimental methods that lead to patents and discoveries. While there is no harm in studying the way science was discussed in ancient India, it would be disastrous if interaction with modern scientific method was discarded in trying to prove ancient science.

Undermining India’s Educational Institutions

The BJP government has chosen to follow the RSS agenda in letter and spirit. They seek to undermine India’s spirit of free enquiry and world acclaimed social science scholarship. They also want to undermine India’s access to world knowledge and the leading role of our IT industry by trying to force us to give up English and push only Hindi as the national language, a language that has no foundation beneath the Vindhyas. Because they have no leadership that played a significant role in India’s freedom, today their raison d’etre lies in promoting superstition and substituting myth for history for facts.On May 22, even before Narendra Modi was sworn in, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghaffiliated Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas run by Dinanath Batra demanded a total overhaul of the education system and rewriting of textbooks so they inculcate patriotism, reflect “Indian tradition, social consciousness… and spiritualism” Their goal is todestroy India’s democratic and scientific traditions. They are ensuring their plans come to fruition by changing the character of our public and intellectual institutions and arbitrarily transferring renowned writer and intellectuals and replacing them with people whose qualifications are only their membership of the RSS. The agitation by the students of India’s premier Film and Television Institute over the lack of qualification of their chosen director Chauhan is a case in point. The Culture ministry has been in the eye of a storm over the abrupt transfers of National Museum head Venu Vasudevan and Lalit Kala Akademi chief Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty. Similarly, noted danseuse Leela Samson resigned from the censor board over interference. Amongst the BJP’s intellectuals are people like Subramanium Swamy who demand that the books of left wing and secular historians be burnt and that Muslims are aliens. Such intellectuals spread hate and distort the spirit of harmony. The appointment of Y Sudershan Rao, a spiritual guru as chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research  is similar. Rao hates a Western and Marxist scholars who have criticized

superstition and blind adherence to faith. He defends the caste system. He wants to prove the historicity of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. He emphasises the relevance of the Puranas: “The ICHR has to play a catalyst role in taking to people their history” through the epics.

Communalizing Culture and Pushing a Sectarian Agenda

Declaring Christmas Day, the Day of Good Governance is a deliberate attempt by the Modi government to deny equal space to any other religion, just like their ban on Meat is designed not just to persecute Muslims culturally but also harm them economically since many of them earn their living through this trade. These are sectarian tactics of the most despicable kind and deserve to be condemned since they harm the long tradition of amity that has existed amongst all our communities. Even the foreign ministry has been forced into following this agenda through Modi’s aggressive Hindu agenda on his visits abroad. As my good friend Praful Bidwai, a journalist who died recently had to say, “A hallmark of the Modi government’s first 200 days in office is the beginning of the Sangh Parivar’s Long March through the institutions of the state, in particular bodies that deal with education and culture. The Parivar’s agenda is to reflect its own specific brand of “cultural nationalism” in these institutions by engineering longterm changes in their programmes and priorities, and by making key appointments of personnel who will loyally execute such changes”. This sends out an unmistakable signal about the shape of things to come in other Central universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, some of the IITs, and the CBSE, among many other institutions where new appointments are due soon at the top or in their councils and governing bodies.

Conclusion: Stand Up and Fight

The Congress Party and its cadre must come out strongly against this communalization of our culture and the increasing persecution of minorities. We must stand up to their attempts to change our history and above all ensure that the Congress’s Party and its leaders historic role in the making of modern India is never forgotten. We must expose their lies at every forum and at every opportunity. The constitutional democracy and freedom guaranteed to every citizen must be defended and the saffronization of culture and education vehemently contested. Under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi we must stand firm in our commitments to the secular and democratic ideology of the Congress Party. v

Congress Sandesh | 33 | September 2015

From the ARchives Following are the extracts from the speeches of the Congress Presidents who have placed their vision and opinion for building the destiny of India.

TiME FOR aCTION Address by Congress President on January 20, 2013 at AICC Meeting, Jaipur, Rajasthan

T

his gave us a useful opportunity to introspect, debate and plan for the future. It allowed us to discuss some of our crucial political and organizational challenges, as well as key social, economic and international issues. The outcome of the Shivir is being distributed to all of you. I am particularly delighted with the active participation of so many of our younger colleagues at the Chintan Shivir. Engaging the youth more centrally in our organization is necessary. Only in this way can we develop and project new leadership. At the last AICC Plenary held at Burari in December 2010, the major issue on the nation’s agenda was corruption, and rightly so. You may recall that I had placed a five-point action plan to deal with it. Since then, our Congress-led UPA government has moved forward on this matter. We have got the Lok Pal Bill introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha. We have reviewed all discretionary powers of ministers that could lead to misuse of public office, and have instituted more open methods of allocating natural resources. We have introduced new path-breaking legislation for redressing public grievances, for protecting whistleblowers and for ensuring transparency in large government purchases and contracts.

This AICC meeting comes in the backdrop of concern across India on the issue of safety and security of women. The barbaric gang-rape of a young woman in the nation’s capital has shaken the entire country. People are rightly demanding answers and action. This brave young woman in many ways embodied the spirit of an inspirational India. We will ensure that her death will not have been in vain. She is tragically, a symbol of thousands of women, and children, who suffer a similar fate, whose lives are ruined or worse, and who are denied justice. Gender justice and equality was one of the five topics that was discussed over the past two days at the Chintan Shivir. There was acknowledgement that our government has taken many steps to ensure the welfare and well- being of women. New programmes have been launched. New laws have been enacted. They include an amendment to ensure equal rights for women in inheritance, new laws to protect women from domestic violence and sexual harassment at the work place. Aajeevika the expansion and strengthening of women’s selfhelp groups is one of our key flagship programmes. The sharp and enhanced focus on sanitation will have a positive impact on the dignity of women. Their growing involvement in panchayats and local administration is giving them a new voice and confidence.

And we have just launched the historic Aap Ka Paisa, Aapke Haath initiative. This will, over time, ensure that benefits like pensions, wages, scholarships, subsidies reach the aam Aadmi directly. Corruption by middlemen will be eliminated. Let me reiterate: corruption at all levels’ is a deep-rooted malaise and all sections of our society are affected by it. We must, as a Party, continue to lead a determined struggle to combat it effectively. Congress Sandesh | 34 | September 2015

From the ARchives Making people aware of such legislation and demanding its enforcement must become a priority in our political activities. We cannot tolerate the shameful social mindsets that lead to unspeakable atrocities on women and children. In the last few weeks, some public figures have come out with truly shocking statements reflective of these completely unacceptable attitudes. The Congress Party has always been in the forefront of the struggle for the full empowerment of women. We will continue this campaign. Every woman and girl in our country has a fundamental Constitutional right to feel safe and secure, to enjoy full equality in every respect. And while on this subject, I assure you that I will personally continue to press for the passage of the law that would provide for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. Reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas, a legacy of Rajivji, has transformed these institutions and is leading to better governance. Today is al so a good opportunity to reflect on ourselves as a Party. What is our political ideology? What do we stand for? What sets us apart from our political opponents? What is distinctive about us? Why should people vote for us? These are questions I hear frequently. We must therefore be clear on our answers. We must not only be clear to ourselves, we have to communicate the answers cogently and convincingly. The Congress party has always been anchored in a vision of India. This is a vision bequeathed to us by our leaders, guided and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi who fought for the freedom of the country, We got the guidance from great leaders like Nehruji, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and Dr. Ambedkar who built the foundation of the modern India. It is a result of this that not only respects its myriad of diversities but achieves its inspiration of its unity from them. We are fortunates that great leaders like Shastriji, Indiraji and Rajivji provided us with the historic leadership for the creation of modern India. This is an India that is founded on a strong Centre, strong states

and empowered institutions of local self-government. This is an India that is making the role of government in socioeconomic transformation more effective, while at the same time expanding the space for private enterprise to flourish. This is an India which believes in peace in its neighbourhood, which engages in dialogue only on principles of accepted civilized behavior and which remains ever vigilant against terrorism and threats. In our hearts we are inclusive like no other party. That inclusiveness is fundamental to our ideology and is not a political ploy like it is for many of our opponents. We seek the support of, we appeal to and we have a place for all sections of society even as we pay special attention to the concerns of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, minorities and women. Similarly, our policies and programmes give primacy to agriculture and farmers who are the backbone of our economy. The Congress Party is the foremost symbol of the unity and integrity of India. Yet, we are defenders not just of its physical unity, our commitment to the emotional unity of India is total. We will always confront those ideologies and forces that challenge the very idea of India, that seek to polarize our society, that seek to segment and divide us. The Congress Party is the pre-eminent champion of parliamentary democracy. For us, the foundations of this democracy are provided by the Panchayat raj institutions. However, we must recognize that there is disenchantment with the political process. We must understand why this disenchantment has gained ground and respond with sensitivity. While doing so, we must categorically refute and reject any sweeping denigration of politicians, political parties and indeed of democratic institutions. But we do appreciate that electoral reforms and reforms in the financing of political parties are urgently needed to restore public confidence. Many ideas have been under discussion in various official and non-official forums. We now need a clear and time-bound roadmap to make these reforms a reality. To catalyse this process, I am setting up a group in the Party to examine all these proposals and give us this roadmap at the earliest. From the very beginning, the Congress has always stood and fought for an egalitarian social order. It has introduced landmark programmes and schemes to rid the country of poverty and persistent social and economic inequities and inequalities. This is not populism. It is a compelling moral imperative. Friends, these days, every political party claims the development plan. The fact that development is itself an important electoral issue is a profound tribute to the Congress way. But there is more to the Congress way. It is the convergence of a steadfast commitment to democracy, development, secularism and social

Congress Sandesh | 35 | September 2015

From the ARchives justice that is at its very heart. No other political party has this at its ideological foundation. This is also a good time to reflect on our uninterrupted eight and a half years in government at the Centre. Our record of accomplishment under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singhji, has been solid and outstanding. There is absolutely nothing to feel defensive about. We take pride in it. We have made rapid and inclusive growth the defining mission of our government. Unparalleled resources have been devoted to social welfare and poverty eradication. State governments, irrespective of their political complexion, have received unprecedented funds from the Centre. I am well aware that in many non- Congress states, the UPA’s flagship programmes are being claimed as the contribution of these states themselves. These are clearly false and must be exposed by all of you and other party colleagues. We have brought in a new rights-based approach into our discourse - the right to information, the right to work, the right to education, the forest rights act, to name four prominent examples. A right to food security and a right to fair and just compensation for land acquisition is on the anvil. Our party must make people fully aware of their entitlements. Even as we strive to do more, we must ensure that we don’t forget the long distance that we have traveled. We must communicate our achievements forcefully to the people of our country. It is one thing for the government to communicate. Ultimately, it is the Party organization that must propagate what we have done. India has demonstrated its resilience at a time when the whole world has been facing financial turmoil and economic stagnation. Of late, however, the continuing global slowdown is hurting us and compelling the government to take hard decisions. We know that our difficulties are not yet over and we need to explain this to our people. We are just about fifteen months from the Lok Sabha elections. I am confident that if we work systematically we will get a renewed mandate from the people. We also have a number of assembly elections this year. The foremost challenge, in my view, is to present a united and disciplined front to the people. Our large army of workers has only one expectation from their leaders unity and discipline. We must not fail them. We must rid ourselves of factional politics. The party’s victory is a victory for each and every one of us. Identifying, nurturing and encouraging new leadership at all levels of the organization is of paramount importance. This has to be a special task that our colleagues entrusted with positions of authority must undertake. It is the Party that has given them these positions. They have an obligation to the Party to reach out across the widest cross section and not confine their support or mentoring only to a preferred few. Friends, this, more than any other time, is time for action.

Former MP Bal Krishna Wasnik passes away Nagpur: Veteran Congress leader and three-term member of Parliament Balkrishna Wasnik passed away on 10th September, 2105 at a private hospital here following cardiac failure. His son AICC General Secretary and ex-Union Minister Shri Mukul Wasnik was by his side when he breathed last around 2pm. He was 86. Shri Balkrishna Wasnik had represented two constituencies of Vidarbha in Parliament Bhandara and Buldhana. At a young age of 28 he was first elected in 1957 from Bhandara and from the same constituency he was elected again in 1962. Later, in 1980 he shifted to Buldhana at the western end of the region. After that term, his son Mukul inherited the seat and contested four elections before shifting in 2014 to Ramtek. Shri Balkrishna Wasnik is survived by son and two daughters, Dr Dipti and Dr Seema, and large number of family members, followers and well-wishers. All his life Shri Balkrishna Wasnik fought for the poor and oppressed sections of the society. He was at the forefront in agitations to secure reservations for Dalits. A staunch supporter of separate Vidarbha, he led the movement in 1967 as president of Mahavidarbha Rajya Sangharsh Samiti. In a message, Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has condoled the passing away of veteran party leader Shri Bal Krishna Wasnik. Recalling his long record in public service and in Parliament, Smt. Gandhi said that Shri Wasnik’s commitment to the cause of people in general and weaker sections of the society in particular was unwavering. Extending her condolences to his son, Congress General Secretary, Shri Mukul Wasnik, Smt. Gandhi said that the entire party stood with him in this moment of deep personal loss. v We are the nation’s foremost political party with a proud and distinguished history. Hence, it is natural that people’s expectations are also that much greater. We have to perform at all levels, on all fronts. So let us mobilize our collective strength, our collective political will for the sake of our people who have time and again reposed their faith and confidence in us. This is our calling, this is our obligation. Jai Hind. v

Congress Sandesh | 36 | September 2015

NEWS

STATESWATCH Nation Pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi The Nation pays tributes to Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary on 20th August, 2015. Following are the state-wise report:-

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Port Blair: The 71st birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi was celebrated very affectionately at Gandhi Bhavan on 20th August, 2015, the PCC Chief Kuldeep Rai Sharma garlanded the portrait of the leader while all the leaders and

While addressing, Shri Pramod Rai said that the work of development and progress for every individual Indian by Shri Rajiv Gandhi was a matter of honour for every Congressmen. Others who spoke were former Chief, Ranapratap Singh, former district vice president, Shri Mohan Dubey, Prof. Rajendra Ojha. Shri Birendra Mishra conducted the function. The speakers asked Congressmen to resolve to make India corruption free and remember the great sacrifice by Shri Rajiv Gandhi. 28-SWBIS: Patna: The Bihar Pradesh Congress Scheduled Caste Department paid tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his 71 st birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015.

supporters paid floral tributes. Shri Kuldeep said that this day is also known as Sadbhavana diwas which is a day to remember the principles, attitudes and morals of late Prime Minister and to promote national integration and communal harmony. The Sadbhavana pledge was also administered by the PCC President of the Andaman Nicobar Territorial Congress.

BIHAR

Bhojpur : The Dist r ic t C ong ress Committee celebrated the 71 st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi and paid tributes to him here on 20th August, 2015. On the occasion a debate was also organized on the contribution of Shri Rajiv Gandhi in the Panchayti Raj. The debate was inaugurated by Pradesh Congress representative, Shri Pramod Kumar Rai.

All India Scheduled Caste Council president, Shri Umesh Kumar Ram garlanded the photograph of Rajivji and spoke on his life history and later distributed sweets among the people. Shri Ram spoke about the contribution of Shri Rajiv Gandhi in the development and progress of our country though IT and computer revolution. O t h e r s w h o p a i d t r i b ut e s w e re Ramnavami Thakur, Anita Devi, Nirmala Rani, Md. Istaq Anjum, Subhyash Ram, Upendra Kumar Khushbaha, Manoj Kumar Singh, Baidnath Ram, Siyaram Prasad Gupta, Sunil Paswan, Arvind Chaudhary, Rajkumar, Shivam Kumar with others.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Congress paid rich tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, on his 71st Congress Sandesh | 37 | September 2015

birth anniversary by organizing rally at Village Dadwa on 20th August. 2015. Hundred of the Congress workers and people gathered in the rally to pay homage to former prime minister which was addressed by Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Pardeep Chhabra, president Chandigarh Congress. Many senior leaders of the party were also present on the occasion. Shri B ansal said that it was the progressive vision of Rajiv Gandhi which led the country to the path of the development. Shri Bansal said that former prime Minister became the instrument of much needed change and directed his efforts towards bringing a digital revolution in the nation. His penchant for hi-tech and determination to “propel India into the 21st century” earned him enormous popularity among the younger segment of the population. Shri Chhabra said that the decision of the Rajiv Gandhi of giving voting rights to youth of 18 years from 21 years and giving more power to the Panchayti Raj institutions were historical and changed the fate of the nation. He said that his dynamic and forward thinking, his emphasis on technology and computers left an imprint on India

NEWS today. The rally was organized by Gurpreet Singh Happy sarpanch of the Daria village.

operating eleven children for split lips. This was done by Pradesh president, Shri Mahender Kochhar and operated by Dr. Sunil Kalara at the Kalra Nursing Home on 22 August, 2015.

Pradesh Congress general secretary, Shri Khazan Singh after paying tributes, honoured Smt. Pooja Sharma for being appointed as the president of the District Rural Mahila Congress.

Shri Kochhar is involved in various act of service to the needy people, such as giving hearing aids to the people and calipers to the handicapped.

Shri Khazan Singh said that taking inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi and vice-president, Shri Rahul Gandhi are making all-out efforts to get one rank, one pension to the ex-servicemen and for opposing the Land ordinance in Parliament and compelling the Modi government to withdraw it ultimately.

CHHATTISGARH

Raipur: City Congress paid tributes to Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary at the Congress Bhawan here on 20th August, 2015. The day was celebrated as Sadbhavana Diwas.

DELHI

On this occasion, a Sadbhavana march was taken from Congress Bhawan to the statue of Rajiv Gandhi at Fire Brigade Crossing in which School children and Congress workers participated and which was led by Pradesh Congress President, Shri Bhupesh Baghel. Former Minister and MLA, Shri Satyanarayan Sharma made the people take a pledge of Sadbhavan in the Congress Bhawan. After garlanding the photo of Rajiv Gandhi, Senior Congress leader Shri Hassan paid tributes and spoke about the life of the Congress leader. Mahila Congress District President, Smt. Usha Ranjan Srivastav said that Shri Rajivji had given empowerment to women and ushered in the computer and IT revolution in India.

Operated for split lips on Rajiv’s birthday Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Pradesh C o n g r e s s C o m m i t t e e Ha n d i c ap Department paid tributes to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary here. Tributes were paid to the great leader by

New Delhi: IYC National President Shri Amarinder Singh Brar paid floral tribute to Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary on 20th August, 2015 at 5, Raisina Road, New Delhi. Late Rajiv Gandhi was instrumental in

starting Information Technology (IT) & Communication revolution in the country. He was born on 20th August, 1944 and served as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1984-1989. IYC National office bearers also paid tributes to the Late Prime Minister.

HARYANA

Gurgaon: Haryana Pradesh Congress paid tributes to former prime minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary and celebrated the day as ‘inspiration day’ here on 20 th August, 2015. Congress Sandesh | 38 | September 2015

Homage to First Lady Gurgaon: Meanwhile, The Congress and Sewa Dal workers, led by Shri Khazan Singh also paid homage to the First Lady of the country and wife of Shri Pranav Mukherjee, the President of India. A condolence meeting was organized at the District Congress office at Kaman Serai. Large number of Congress officebearers and Sewa Dal workers attended in paying homage. Rewari: Congressmen and the District Congress Committee paid tributes to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015. Haryana Pradesh Congress general secretary Shri Charanjiv Rao and others garlanded the statue of Rajiv Gandhi at the Rewari crossing. The Congressmen later distributed fruit and sweets among the children in the jhuggis and to the inmates of the old-home.

NEWS

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Solan: Himachal Pradesh Congress Sewa Dal paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015.

Former Haryana Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav accounted the life story of Rajivji who brought about the IT and computer revolution in the country. He was responsible for taking India into the 21st century and he was a foresighted person who wanted India to be a leading country in the world. Sonepat: District Congress paid tributes to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015.

Pradesh senior organizer, Shri Hari Mohan Sharma garlanded the photo of Rajiv ji at Kaleen village in Solan. Shri Sharma also spoke on the life and history of Rajiv Gandhi who brought about the IT and Computer revolution in India which also gave prosperous future and career of the youth of India.

Speaking on the occasion Shri G.A. Mir described Shri Rajiv Gandhi as the architect of Panchayat Raj System in the Country. He fulfilled the dreams of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi to devolve powers of planning and development to the grass root institutions of democracy, so that the people shape their own destiny as per their needs. He translated the concept of participatory democracy at the grass root levels.

Others who paid tributes were former Pradesh Mahila Congress President, Maj. Kishna Mohini, Smt. Malti Sharma, Ramesh Mehta, Nitasha,

The function was presided over by former pradhan Shri Pradeep Singh Gautam who garlanded the photo of Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Shri Gautam addressed the gathering and said that Rajivji brought the computer revolution in India and in IT. It was because of his farsightedness that India has made so much progress and development and has become one of the top nations of the world.

candidates and district presidents of Jammu Province..

Sushil Chaudhary, Bhudev Sharma, Rohit, Smt. Tara Sharma, Mohan Mehta, Devendrapal Sood, Kr. Renu, Baldev Thakur, Sanjay Bhandari, Hemant Sharma, Gaurav Sood, Mahendra Thakur, Bhishnu Chauhan, Satya, Suresh, Shri Bhardwaj and Jyotisna Thakur with others.

PCC Chief said that Shri Rajiv Gandhi had taken a historical decision and lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years in order to ensure that the youth of the country also participate in the democratic systems and take lead in politics to serve the nation with young ideas.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Present on the occasion were Shri Mahabir Prasad, Monika Malik, Dr. Satbir Nirman, Kanwar Singh Khatri, Su k hbir Jat i, D e vendra Shar ma, Ashok Chhabra, Bhaleram Jagada, Pd. Surajbhan, Raghubir Singh, Babbu Khan, Devendra Kadiyan, Hansraj, Narendra Malik with others.

Jammu: The 71 st  Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi was celebrated by the Congress party throughout the state by organizing several functions. The main function in Jammu was held at PCC HQ at Shaheedi Chowk Jammu.  The function was presided over by Shri Ghulam Ahmed Mir, President PCC and attended by functionaries and senior leaders of PCC. DCC Jammu and frontal organizations of the party, contesting Congress Sandesh | 39 | September 2015

T h e s p e a ke r s i n t h e i r   s p e e c h e s recalled the contributions of the Late Rajiv Gandhi and remembered his achievements in various spheres during his short stint in politics. They referred to his efforts to achieve peace in various parts of the country during his period through dialogue and settled various issues and situations confronting the country. He was a messenger of peace & harmony and they asked partymen to follow his ideals.

NEWS The function was attended by Shri Sham Lal Sharma- Senior Vice President PCC, Shri Tara Chand Ex-Dy. Chief Minister, (Ex-MPs) Dharam Pal Sharma & Madan Lal Sharma; Sdr. Gurmukh Singh; Shri Raman Bhalla, Shri Mula Ram, Smt. Kanta Bhan (Vice Presidents PCC), Shri Ravinder Sharma-Chief Spokesman PCC; Shri Rajnish SharmaCo-Treasurer PCC; Jugal Kishore Sharma (MLC); Th. Balwan Singh, Dr. Manohar Lal, Yogesh Sawhney, Shah Mohammad Choudhary, Sdr. Manjit Singh, Manmohan Singh, Vikram Malhotra, Namrata Sharma, Faqir Nath (all General Secretaries PCC); MLAs Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and Ch. Mohammad Akram; Prakash Sharma (Ex-MLA) President DCC Samba; Subash Gupta (Ex-MLC) President DCC Kathua, Sain Abdul RashidPresident DCC Rajouri, Ashok GuptaPresident DCC Udhampur; Smt. Suman Bhagat, Kuldip Raj Verma, Th. Shiv Dev Singh, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, Th. Balbir Singh, Babu Singh, Y.V. Sharma, Th. Maheshwar Singh, Darshan Raina, Subash Bhagat, Krishan Chand Bhagat, M.K. Bhardwaj (all Member Executive PCC);  Smt. Indu Pawar (Ex-MLA) President Mahila Congress; Pranav Shagotra-President PYC; Shiv Kumar Sharma-President INTUC; Neeraj Kundan-President NSUI, Hira Lal Pandita-Chairman Migrant Cell, and many other senior leader of the PCC.

Dr. Singh said that he was a farsighted person who wanted to take India to new heights of progress and development. India made rapid progress in the field of Information Technology and Computer and Communication. Because of this Indians are know all over the world in the computer technology.

ODISHA

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Rajiv Gandhi Students’ Forum in association with Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle celebrated the 71st Birth Anniversary of the former Prime Minister of India Bharat Ratna Shri Rajiv Gandhi on 20th August 2015 at Jayadev Bahwan, Bhubaneswar. Satyabrata Nayak, State President, Odisha Rajiv Gandhi Students’ Forum and Secretary, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) presided over this celebration.

Dr. Darshan Singh garlanded the statue of Rajiv Gandhi and thereafter spoke on the life history of the great leader.

On this great occasion 55 Graduation Toppers of the Utkal University and Ravenshaw University and 14 Qualifiers of IAS examination from Odisha were felicitated with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Chhatra Prativa Sammana. Two dynamic and energetic youth were felicitated with Rajiv Gandhi Prativa Sammana-2015 for outstanding contribution in the fields of Social Service and Humantarian Support. Students, youths and their parents from all over Odisha attend this birthday celebration and felicitation ceremony.

PUNJAB

Chandigarh: 71 st Birth Anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was celebrated in the Punjab Congress Bhawan on 20th August, 2015.

MADHYA PRADESH

Gwalior: City Congress Committee paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015. The function was presided over by City Congress President, Dr. Darshan Singh and organization incharge General Secetary, Shri Latif Khan Mallu conducted the function.

and former MP, Dr. Rama Chandra Khuntia said Rajiv Gandhi had strong determination to bring economic refor ms and de cent ra lizat ion of power. Among others Students’ Forum President, Satyabrata Nayak, Former Vice Chancellor of Utkal University, Prof. Binayak Rath and Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle State Coordinator, Prof. Surya Mishra spoke on this occasion.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Prasad Harichandan, who joined the event as Chief Guest, said on this occasion that, the country will never forget Rajiv Gandhi for his relentless efforts for the nation’s development, integrity and peace. He prove himself as a true patriot by initiating the Sadbhawana Yatra to root out Communalism from the country. As Chief Speaker, AICC Secretary Congress Sandesh | 40 | September 2015

Floral tributes were paid to the beloved leader by S. Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa General Secretary PPCC, S. Rajbir Singh General Secretary PPCC, S. Raj Pal Singh Office Incharge PPCC, S. Jagtar Singh Burj Chairman Panchayati Rural Development PPCC, S. Gurwinder Singh Bali, S. Paramjit Singh Randhawa, S. Gurpartap Singh Mann Secretaries PPCC, S. Jang Bahadur Singh CoChairman SC Deptt. PPCC, Prin.

NEWS Hardeep Singh Patti, Chairman Retired Emp. & Pensioner Welfare Cell PPCC, S. Gursharan Singh Riar, Vice Chairman Kisan & Khet Majdoor Cell PPCC, Smt. Bhupinder Kaur Gill Ropar, S. Anoop Singh Bhullar, Shri Kunwar Partap Singh Bajwa General Secretary PYC, Shri Pushpinder Sharma, S. Ranjit Singh Nangalian and hundreds of Leaders and workers.

integration and anti-terrorism and spreading message of our beloved Rajiv Gandhi ji. The Yatra passed through Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana enroute to Delhi.  On 19th the Yatra reached Delhi  and members met Smt. Sonia Gandhi with Rajiv Jyoti. Sonia ji congratulated w o r k e r s f o r t h e i r c a u s e .   Ya t r a Workers  and DPCC members did milk Abhishek of Rajiv ji’s statue near Parliament house and Finally on 20th August, Birthday of our beloved Rajiv

Speaking on the occasion these leaders said that the nation will remember the unparallel sacrifice of late leader for the unity & integrity of his motherland for a long time. They said further that we stand committed to the vision of our leader for the 21st century new & stronger India. In the end these leaders said they are ready for any kind of sacrifice for the unity & integrity of the country.

Rajiv Jyoti Arrives in Delhi Sriperambadur : 24th R ajiv Jyoti Sadbhavana Yatra started on 9th August, Quit India Movement day from Rajiv Memorial, Sriperambadur, Tamilnadu to Veer Bhumi, New Delhi.  The Yatra was blogged-off by P. Sudhakar Reddy, MLC, Incharge Rajiv Jyoti Sadbhavana Yatra Committee,  U.T. Khadar, Minister of Health, Government of Karnataka and S.S. Prakasham, chairman. 200 Congress members started there Journey by taking Oath for national

On this occasion, addressing the gathering, AICC spokesperson and MLA Dr. Reeta Bhugauna Joshi said Rajiv Gandhi was the great bridge to link the past, the present and the future of India. He worked faster then what he promised and had taken several initiatives to ensure that India enter in the 21 st century as modern and prosperous country. Rajivji made anti defection law enacted to promote value base politics, as a prime minister he made the valuable contributions in modernizing India, Dr. Joshi added. UPCC General Secretary and ex. Mayor Ch. Jitendra Nath Singh said Rajivji followed the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi with a focus on eradication of poverty with development of villages. District Congress president, Anil Dwivedi presided over the function. UPCC Spokesman Kishore Varshney while conducting the Sabha condemned the acts of terrorism and violent trends in the country. He praised Rajivji in empowering women and providing 18 years youth to enable their participation in the mainstream by giving them the right to vote.

On this occasion a Tree Plantation was also done at the Punjab Congress Bhawan by the newly elected General Secretar y Punjab youth Congress Kunwar Partap Singh Bajwa.

TAMILNADU

workers reached Anand Bhawan and garlanded the portrait of Rajivji.

ji, kept the Jyoti at Veer Bhumi and took pledge of National Integration, communal harmony and spreading the ideals of Rajiv Gandhi ji with Shri Oscar Fernandes, Ashok Tanwar, P.C. Chacko, K. Raju, Raja Brar, P. Sudhakar Reddy MLC, Incharge and S.S. Prakasham, chairman RJSY).

UTTAR PRADESH

Allahabad: Rich and glowing tributes were paid to Bharat Ratna and Ex. Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 71st birth anniversary on 20 August, 2015 which was observed as ‘SADBHAWNA DIWAS’ by District and City Congress Committee. A large number of party Congress Sandesh | 41 | September 2015

D r. Jo sh i a ls o a d m i n iste re d t he S a d h h aw a n a D i w a s o at h t o t h e Congressmen. UPCC VC of minority dept. Fuzail Hashmi, Sant Prasad Pandey, Abhishek Shukla, Sanjay Tiwari, Spokesman Awadesh Tripathi, Dr. Ramesh Jaiswal, Vijay Bahadur Singh, S.S. Malviya, Mahesh Tripathi, Prof. Yamuna Pandey, Chaman Rawat, Brijendra Mishra, Razia Sultan, Abhinna Varshney, Manash Sharma, L al Babu Shahu Gaurav Tripathi, Keshav Lal, Raj Bahadur Gupta, Shyam Mishra, Md. Sartaz, Atul Tiwari, Mukhtarul Ansari, Raj Kumar Mishra and many others paid their tributes.

NEWS Tricycles given to handicapped Unnao: Tributes was paid to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who placed the foundation of modern India on his birth anniversary here on 20th August, 2015 and distributed tricycles to the handicapped by Smt. Annu Tandon, former MP.

Smt. Tandon addressing the fathering said that the handicapped should not feel weak in their willpower because you see many examples in would that a handicapped person has even climbed Mt, Everest. She said that the dream which Shri Rajiv Gandhi saw of strong willpower, modern technology and the feeling of strong working people were based on this.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS Protest Dharna against suspension of 25 Congress MPs Por t Bl air : The C ong ress Par t y organized a Dharna on 4 th August, 2015 at Tiranga Park to protest against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs in the Parliament. At the outset, after welcoming the gathering, the PCC President Kuldeep R ai S h ar m a h a s s ai d t h at N DA government wants to treat opposition parties like puppets in their hands. It is performing like a Monarch and wants the opposition parties to follow its verdict without submitting any words against it. The autocratic ruling party has forgotten that we are living

in a democracy, and the role of the opposition is crucial and important as it has to express the mood of the nation, said Shri Kuldeep. Let it be Land Acquisition bill, or Vyapam Scam and so on, this government wants to get rid of these issues inside Parliament, on their terms and conditions by suppressing the voice of the opposition. This government is totally undermining the role of the opposition.

Sometimes, we come to the conclusion that there is undeclared emergency across the country, Kuldeep added. AICC members Swaroop lall, K Muthu, PCC Vice President Haji Hamid Ali and Sushil Mondal, District President (SA) RV Reddy, Mahila Congress President Shanta Laksman Singh, Chief of Seva dal Noor Islam, Sr. Spokesperson K Ganeshan, General Secretaries Mohd Ali, Gyan Prakash Krishna, Aboobaker, ZP Adhyaksha Mariyam Bibi, SWB (Shipyard Workers Board) Chairperson Ratna Kannan, Chairperson PBMC Arumugham, PRI members, Abdul Aziz, Wimberligunge and other dignitaries were present in the Dharna and many of them have also spoken in the Dharna and opined that the situation is fast changing and the people of India are now realizing the false assurances given by the BJP before election. They also spoke that; Truth will not be silenced in the case of corruptions and scams, where the Prime Minister is protecting the guilty. Despite heavy down-pour, there was a large gathering of the party workers and supporters in the Dharna who had gathered to express their solidarity with the suspended MPs. “We stand with each of our suspended MPs” was the slogan of the Dharna. Congress Sandesh | 42 | September 2015

Independence Day celebrated Port Blair: The 69th Independence day was celebrated at Gandhi Bhavan on 15 th August, 2015 with a feeling of nationalism, solidarity and celebration. The PCC chief Kuldeep

Rai Sharma hoisted the National flag followed by National Anthem and sweet distribution. The celebration was attended by the leaders of Pradesh Congress Committee, District Congress Committee, BCC, City Congress and frontal organizations, PRI members, staff and supporters.

BIHAR Quit India Day celebrated Patna: The Bihar Pradesh Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Congress celebrated the Quit India Day here on 9th August, 2015. The day was celebrated as ‘Sankalp Diwas’ and Shri Pramod Rai, VicePresident of the Mazdoor Congress addressed the gathering and asked the people to take pledge to fight corruption, terrorism, casteism and to maintain unity and integrity of our nation. Shri Rai said that on this day in 1942, Gandhiji gave this call and started the freedom struggle and asked the Britishers to quit India. District

NEWS Shri Jogi said that the Modi government says same thing and do something. He said that Shri Modi has taken no action against his chief minister who are accused in corruption and is shielding them. Shri Modi should make his stand clear in the Parliament.

Congress General Secretary, Prof. Rajendra Ojha and Secretary, Shiv Shanker Chaube welcomed the guests. Present on the occasion were Shri Mohan Dubey, Prof. Arun Singh, Shri Belal Ahmad, Shri Ghanshyam Upadhaya, Razi Ahmad, Prem Prakash Pandey, Narendra Mishra, Ramshabd Singh, Abdul Qureshi, Lutawan Ram Chaurasia, Jalil Mohammad, Dev Kumar Singh, Madan Mohan with others.

CHHATTISGARH UPA Land Act back in place Raipur : Former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Ajit Jogi said on 4 th August that the anti-people and the anti-farmer government at the centre has ultimately withdrawn the land ordinance and has decided to implement the land Act that was passed by the UPA government. Shri Jogi said that the Modi government because of their ego of being in majoirity was trying to forcefully implement the land ordinance but Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Congress MPs and others in the opposition did not allow the ordinance to be passed in the Parliament. Shri Jogi said that Modi government wanted to grab the land of the farmers and give it to a few industrialists but that did not happen because of the fruitful efforts of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice-president Shri Rahul Gandhi. The Speaker of the House even suspended 25 Congress MPs from the House which will be written down as black day in democracy.

DELHI Protest against price rise of essential commodities New Delhi: Thousands of Congress workers, led by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Shri Ajay Maken, on 30th August, 2015 held a “Thali-Peet” demonstration outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Civil Lines to protest against the soaring prices of essential commodities, including onion and pulses, and seeking bye-elections to 13 vacant MCD wards. Addressing over 10,000 Congress workers, Shri Ajay Maken said the “Thali-Peet” demonstration was held to awaken Shri Arvind Kejriwal from his deep slumber as the Aam Aadmi Party leader seems to be oblivious to the price arise all around him, as the prices of essential commodities have shot over the roof, making the life of the people unbearable. He said onions were selling at prices ranging from Rs. 80 to 100, and the AAP Government has not done anything to check the price rise, nor taken action against hoarders and speculators. B esides Shri Ajay Maken, others who participated in the “Thali-Peet” demonstration were ex-MPs Shri Sajjan

Kumar, Mahabal Mishra, Ramesh Kumar, former Delhi Ministers Haroon Yusuf, Kiran Walia, Dr Narendra Nath, DPCC chief spokesperson Smt. Sharmistha Mukherjee, ex-MLAs Malaram Gangwal, Anil Bhardwaj, Hari Shankar Gupta, Bisham Sharma, Tarwinder Singh Marwah, Veer Singh Dhingan, Devendra Yadav, Jaswant Rana, Dayanant Chandela, Vijay Singh Lochav, Prahalad Singh Sahni, Kunwar Karan Singh, Nand Kishore, Bhram Yadav, Chattar Singh, Jagjivan Sharma, Advocate Sunil Kumar, Opposition leaders in the MCD Mukesh Goel, Fa r h a d Su r i a n d Va r y a m K au r, Municipal Councillor Ajit Yadav, Delhi Sevadal Chief Organiser Dineshwar Tyagi and Tasvir Solanki. Shri Ajay Maken recalled that during his first term in the Government, Kejriwal had claimed that he had contained corruption, and that was why prices had come down in Delhi. But Shri Maken said it can now be assumed that corruption has gone up in Delhi as the prices have soared sky high to break all records. He said the Kejriwal Government has neither taken action against hoarders, nor has it bothered to supply essential commodities to people at affordable prices. He said other reasons for the price rise was that the Kejriwal Government had increased VAT (Value Added Tax) on essential commodities, and also put entry tax on goods vehicles coming from outside the Capital. Shri Ajay Maken said the Congress Government had ruled Delhi for 15 years, and whenever the prices of a

Congress Sandesh | 43 | September 2015

NEWS particular essential commodity went up, the Government took special measures to make such commodities available to the people at reasonable prices. Besides, he said, the Congress Government also conducted periodic raids to check hoarding and give relief to the people. Shri Maken said it was the stubborn attitude of Kejriwal that has resulted in the present price rise crisis, as he had refused to buy onions offered by NAFED at Rs 19 per kg. He said had the Delhi Government bought onions from NAFED, the prices of the commodity would not have soared sky-high.

Kadam and Satyajeet Tambe. “Jail Bharo Andolan” by MP Youth Congress at Jabalpur

Madhya Pradesh

Jabalpur: Thousands of Protesters of Indian Youth Congress participated in “Jail Bharo Aandolan” for a day on 21st August, 2015 at Jabalpur and demanded resignation of CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan over Khooni VYAPAM under the leadership of IYC National President, Shri Amarinder Singh Brar. MP Youth Congress President, Kunal

Maharashtra Protest march Mumbai: Maharashtra Youth Congress on 19 August, 2015 marched under leadership of National President Amarinder Singh Raja against BJPSena ruled Maharashtra Government from Azad Maidan towards Mantralaya to protest against corruption issues, farmer’s suicide, youth employment. Youth Activist were stopped at the barricading and were detained by police. Prominent among those present at the protest were Ashok Chavan, Prithiviraj Chavan, Sanjay Nirupam, Vishwajeet

Chaudhury has been protesting since long time over the VYAPAM Scam alongwith Youth activists. Due to the large number of protestors police was seen struggling to arrest so many protestors. Prominent among those present at the protest were MP (Lok Sabha) Shri Kamal Nath, AICC Communication Head Shri Randeep Surjewala, Shri Arun Yadav, PCC President and MLA Shri Shri Jitu Patwari.

IYC protest against Modi Govt. over price rise of Essential Commodities New Delhi: Indian National Youth Congress staged massive protest outside the BJP Headquarter in New Delhi over the soaring prices of essential commodities. The protest was led by IYC National President Amarinder Singh Raja on 25th August, 2015. Congress Sandesh | 44 | September 2015

“Prices of Onion, pulses and other essential commodities are soaring and the Modi Government is sleeping. We are protesting here to wake up this antipoor government from the Kumbhkaran Nindra,” Amarinder Singh Raja said. Hundreds of Youth Congress workers marched towards BJP Headquarter at Ashoka Road from IYC office which is located at 5-Raisina Road. Protesters raised slogans against the Modi Government for failing to control soaring prices of onions and pulses. “PM Modi failed to take action against its leaders, Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chauhan over their indulgence in Lalitgate and Vyapam. We hope he will act firmly and swiftly to bring down the skyrocketing prices of onions and other essential commodities across the country,” he added. The skyrocketing onions prices have crossed the Rs. 80 per kg mark in the country and the government is not doing anything to control the increasing price. “Prime Minister Modi, who promised to bring Achchhe Din for common man has failed to check price rise. This is a failed Modi Sarkar which is expert in making promises but completely lacks in action,” said Amarinder Singh Raja. Prominently present were National Office Bearers, S.K. Arthnari, Himat Singh, Manish Thakur, Indrani Mishra, Vidint Choudhary, Srinivas B.V all General Secretaries IYC, Keshav Chand Yadav, Birdavinder Singh Sandhu, Utkarsha Rupwate, Harish Pawar, Daiyan Hussain, Harikrishna, Afzal

NEWS A h m e d , Pr at i b h a R a g hu w an s h i , Abraham Roy Mani, Rahendra Moond, Sitaram Lamba, Ravindra Das and Yogesh HC, Secretaries IYC.

Narendra Modi here on 6th August, 2015 in protest against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs from Parliament by the Speaker.

Book on Sonia Gandhi released New Delhi: A book written on the political personality of Smt. Sonia Gandhi was released at the AICC Headquarters here on 14th August, 2015. The book has been written by Dr. Nishant Kumar, who is the son of a senior Congress leader of Bihar, Shri Chandranan Ojha. The book was released by AICC Treasurer, Shri Motilal Vora, MP. Also present were Congress leader

in the Lok Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Ghulabnabi Azad, AICC General Secretary, Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, AICC Media Incharge, Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Dr. Shakeeluljaman Ansari, Shri Chandranan Ojha. The book contains the life history of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and it also includes the programmes of the UPA government and all the Acts passed by it.

The Congress workers demonstrated against the anti-people policies of the Modi government and this action was a cheap step as the Modi government could not reply to questions of the opposition resented to dictatorial step which was undemocratic and a black day in democracy. This also showed that a government which has absolute majority is not able to run the Parliament. The demonstrators also demanded the resignations of Smt. Sushma Swaraj and dismissal of Vasundhara Raje. Present in the demonstrations were Pradesh Mahila Congress spokespersons Smt. Vandana Papli, district Congress president, Jawaharlal Sachdeva, Ch. Hiralal, Amritlal Tikania, Naresh Sharma, Suchitra Chandana, Madanlal Jham, Master Vedprakash, Billu Sarpanch, Keshavram Gupta with others.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Solan: Congress workers and Sewa Dal workers of Himachal Pradesh Congress

celebrated the 69th Independence Day at the Thodo Maidan here on 15 th August. Shri Anil Sharma, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Animal Husbandry was the chief guest who unfurled the National Flag. Others present on the occasion were former MLA and former Pradesh Mahila Congress president, Ku. Mohani, Senior Sewa Dal Organizer, Hari Mohan Sharma, Shri Madan Chauhan, D.C. Solan, Block President, Shri Baldev Thakur, Prince Hemant Sharma, Malti Sharma, Nitasha, Bhudov Sharma, Tara Sharma with others.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR Protest march against price rise Jammu: Mahila Congress, led by Ms. Indu Pawar staged a protest march against NDA Govt. of Sh. Modi Ji for unprecedented price rise in all essential commodities like vegetables, especially onion, pulses, moong dal and arhar dal and many other items of daily use. Vegetables & pulses are beyond reach of a common citizen, can one imagine any Indian household without dal and sabzi. Economy of the country is also not showing a positive trend there is slump in the market. Both consumers and traders are crying & we do not know ACHHE DIN KAB AYYENGE but mahila is effected by such price rise. The false promises made by BJP Govt. at the centre as well as in state have proved a failure in controlling price rise in vegetables and many eatables of daily use. Ministers are not available to listen to grievances of public. A daily glance at Jammu News Papers is enough to show the condition of power supply & water supply. Public is helpless & coming on roads and Government is shy of attending to the problems of public of all essential commodities.

HARYANA Effigy of Modi burnt Rewari: On the call given by former Haryana minister and senior Congress leader Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav, the district Congress burnt the effigy of Congress Sandesh | 45 | September 2015

NEWS Others present at the function were District Mumbai Congress President, Velluswamy, secretary, Vijaynarayan Tiwari, Mahes Lipcha, District Youth Congress President, Raimani, District Sewadal Chief, Ramesh Vishvakarma, District INTUC Chairman, Sadiq She i k h , Vi k h rol i D ist r i c t Yout h President, Pradeep Verma. She appealed to Govt. to take immediate steps to check price & make all essential commodities available to public of State without further loss of time and do not test the anger of the common man and may not take a shape of bigger agitation. She reiterated that the Congress Party is committed in the welfare of the state & its people without any discrimination of caste, creed or religion & will always support the cause of common man. Mahila Congress raised slogan against the BJP Government.

MAHARASHTRA Fatima Sheikh honoured Mumbai: Mumbai Regional Congress Committee President, Dr. Tirloki Mishra honoured the chief secretary of the ‘Azad Hawkers Union’, Smt. Anees Fatima Sheikh, alias Salma at Povai for her contribution in the success of a case in the Mumbai High Court to Mumbai Congress President, Shri Sanjay Nirupam who had been struggling for the reservation of the Mumbai hawkers.

Smt. Salma thanked Dr. Tirloki Mishra and Shri Velluswamy by tying ‘Rakhis’ on their hands.

PUNJAB Badal’s hope on Modi for economic package is highly misplaced: Bajwa Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress President Shri Partap Singh Bajwa on 20th August, 2015  ridiculed the Chief Minister Shri Parkash Singh Badal for pleading with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for  a special financial package to rescue the state from the deepening crisis while he had earlier missed the bus when Dr Manmohan Singh was too liberal and never denied request for the uplift of his native state. Shri Bajwa also questioned Shri Badal to tell the people of Punjab what is the plight of 15000 Sikh farmers in the state of Gujarat whose land is being taken away by the Gujarat Government. What has happened to the promise of Shri Modi to take back the SLP filed in the Supreme Court against those Gujarat Sikh farmers. “You    now must have realized the difference between Dr Manmohan Singh and Shri Modi who is antiminorities as even your request for appointment is not being honoured, what to talk of any special package for the state on the  pattern of Bihar where Assembly election is to be held this year. You had put your stakes on the wrong person as you were the first to organize his rally in Punjab when Shri Modi was Congress Sandesh | 46 | September 2015

announced as the prime ministerial candidate”, he told Shri Badal. The PPCC chief maintained that the problem with Shri Badal was that despite the UPA government conceding all his requests, he continued to hammer the propaganda of discrimination by the Congress. “It is only now that he might have realized the true meaning of discrimination”, he added. He reminded Shri Badal that it was the UPA government that had initiated the moves to bail out Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal which were the three most stressed states. However, the move was scuttled by Shri Badal himself  for the reasons which are now known to all and which had nothing to do with the state itself  but rooted in the power politics within the extended Badal family. He wanted to know from Shri Badal as to why the BJP leadership in the state is not accompanying him to Delhi to press  the Prime Minister to announce special package for the state. He said Shri Badal should remain satisfied with the ministerial berth given to his family member and stop shedding crocodile tears for Punjab as he lacked moral courage to confront the Modi government on any issue. He said the anti-minority stance of Shri Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the mother organization of the BJP,  was too well known and as such, nothing could be expected from this government as has been the record so far. He also lashed out at the Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal saying he should question leaders like the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on the drug menace in the state and in case he was suffering from selective amnesia, he should tell his staff to pull out the speeches made by the BJP leaders at Anandpur Sahib on this issue.

NEWS

RAJASTHAN Foundation day celebrated Pali: Youth Congress of Pali Lok Sabha Constituency, led by district Congress general secretary, Shri Mangalram Patel celebrated the ‘Foundation Day’ of the Youth Congress here on 9th August, 2015 by offering sweets to each other. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Leader of the opposition and general secretary, Jannat Khaber, Anjun

Tricolor. Ac c ord i ng to D i st r i c t C ong re ss secretary, Ameen Ali Rangrez others present at the function were Sewa Dal chief and district vice-president, Shri Mohan Hatele, general secretary, Mahivir Singh Sukarlai, Piraram Patel, Treasurer Praveen Kothari, Block President, Prakash Sankhala, Leader of the opposition Bharwar Rao, Nihalchand Jain, Madan Singh Jagarwa, Ratan Udashya, Ambalal Vagoria, Gordhan Prajapat, Mano Meghawal, MLA with many others were present.

TAMILNADU Independence Day celebrated in Newly Opened IYC Office

R athode, R avindra Soni, Arihant Mootha, Dinesh Moli, Malaram Patel, Virendra Daga, District Vice-President and office incharge Mohan Hatela, Ameen Ali Rangrez, City Congress President, Prakash Sanbhala, Jeevraj Baran, MLA, Rafiq Chauhan, Masoon Ali Mev, Suresh Rao, Bhairaram Gurjar, Prakash Chaudhary, Babu Singh, Raj Purohit, Anvar Ali, Gopal Bhati, Pemaram Chaudhary with others.

Independence Day celebrated Pali: The District Congress Committee celebrated the Independence Day at the Congress Bhawan here on 15th August, 2015. District Congress President, Shri Aziz Dard unfurled the national

Trichy: The Perambalur Youth Congress C om m it t e e c e l e br at e d t h e 6 9 t h independence day on the new opened IYC office in Pulaivalam, Shri Rajiv Bhawan, which is located in between Trichy to Thuiyur main road, the centre spot of Perambalur Parliament. The celebration went on by distribution of sweets and planting trees in new IYC office site. This special day function has been headed by Kalaiselvi Nallashekar, President of perambalur Lok Sabha with the help and guidance of IYC and other assembly presidents. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee vice president and TNCC media spokesperson Shri K. Rajendran presided as chief guest of the function. The Trichy north DCC President Shri N. Jayaprash and Trichy North DCC General Secretary Dr. N. Nallashekhar were special invitee. Nearly 200 party members and other public people also participated. As per the advice of AICC Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi and the guidance of TNCC president, Shri EVKS Elogovan the IYC decided to meet the people from the village in our premises. The IYC is now going to solve the issues Congress Sandesh | 47 | September 2015

facing the people with the support of the Mahila Congress and Self Helping Group [SHG]. From the newly opened office, We IYC committee has taken a decision to plant 500 Congress Flag in our premises with the end of this year. We are happy to inform that the IYC committee has started election work in the Lok Sabha premises with the help of AYC committee for the upcoming Local body elections in Tamil Nadu.

UTTAR PRADESH Independence Day celebrated Lucknow : On the occasion of Independence Day, former MP and UPCC president, Dr. Nirmal Khatri hoisted the Indian flag at the Congress headquarters here on 15 August, 2015. Shri Prahalad Dwivedi, Pradesh chief organizer of Sewa Dal, as per tradition sang the National Anthem and a guard of honour was given to Dr. Khatri. On the occasion thousands of Congressmen were present and Dr. Khatri said that on this day we remember all those known and unknown martyrs who gave their lives for the freedom of our country and paid tributes to them. Dr. Khatri said that some forces are bent upon crushing our democracy by their dictatorial attitude. The people farmers, labourers and youth are depressed and the whole country is worried because of rising prices, said Dr. Khatri. The communal forces are raising their heads and poisoning the society which is hurting our unity and integrity. Dr.

NEWS Khatri said that we should take a pledge today to keep intact the unity and integrity of our nation. On the occasion, Dr. Khatri also announced financial help to all the workers in the Congress office here to give relief to them from rising prices. Prominently present at the flag hoisting ceremony were former UPCC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, (MLA), former

Pradesh president, Shri Arun Kumar Singh ‘Munna’, former minister, Shri Ramkrishna Dwivedi, Shri Satyadev Tripathi, Dr. Ammar Rizvi, Shri Rajbahadur , former MLC Shri Harish Bajpayee, Shri Shiraj Mehandi, Shri Fazla Masood, Ms. Ansuiya Sharma, Shri Hanuman Tripathi, Shri Onkarnath Singh, Shri Pramod Singh, Shri Maruf Khan, Shri Sanjiv Kumar Singh, City president, Shri Badhelal Shukla, District president, Shri Gaurav Chaudhary, Shri Naresh Balmiki, Dr. Vinod Chandra, Dr. Dhruv Tripathi, Shri Sampoornand Mishra, Shri Anshi Raza, Shri Mukesh Singh Chauhan, Shri Pankaj Tiwari, Shri Shailendra Tiwari, Shri Subhash Srivatava, Smt. Ananta Tiwari, Smt. Shabnam Pandey, Smt. Sushila Sharma, Smt. Shila Mishra, Smt. Sushila Sorekar, Smt. Sunita Rawat with others.

Congressmen lathi-charged and arrested Lucknow: As per the prior programme of ghearaoing the Vidhan Sabha and to hand over the 11-porits charter, all the district and City Congress unit presidents from all over the state gathered at the Laxman Mela ground at 11am here on 17th August, 2015.

Chief guest of the ghearao programme, AICC general secretar y incharge, Shri Madhusudan Mistri said that by looking at such a big gathering and the excitement seen in the Congress workers certainly indicates that the rule full of atrocities in the state is finally going to end soon. He said with the strength of our workers we have to strive against the governance of the UP government. UPCC president, Dr. Nirmal Khatri, who was leading the programme, said that the SP chief, who used to give the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Musalman’ had invited Narendra Modi at Safei and Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav had to take the support of Shri Modi in getting to the stage. By looking at the given slogan, we see that the state government is exploiting both the Kisan and the youth. People are cursing and the law and order situation in the state is in shambles. The gathering at Laxman Mela Maidan were addressed by AICC Working Committee Member, Smt. Mohsina Kidwai (MP), Rajya Sabha Member, Shri P.L. Punia, Shri Pramod Tiwari, Dr. Sanjay Singh, Shri Raj Babbar, AICC secretary co-incharge Shri Rana Goswamy, Shri Zuber Khan, Shri Nasib Singh and Shri Prakash Joshi with senior leaders Shri Sreeprakash Jaiswal, Shri Pradeep Jain Aditya, Congress Legislature leader Shri Pradeep Mathur, Legislative Council Leader, Shri Naseeb Singh Pathan, former minister Shri Ramkrishna Dwivedi and other senior leaders. After the address by the leaders, the Congress workers marched towards the Vidhan Sabha but the large posse of policemen tried to stop the protestors at the barricade set-up at the sankalp Vatika at the Ashok Marg. After much push and pull by the police the police resented to barbaric lathi-charge which injured the Congress workers including Dr. Khatri, Shri Madhusudan Mistry, Shri Pradeep Jain Aditya, Shri Raj Congress Sandesh | 48 | September 2015

Babbar (MP), Youth Congress National general secretary, B.B. Sriniwas, District president, Shri Gaurav Chaudhary, Shri Mehandi Hassan, Shri Aaman Abdullah, Shri Manoj Pathak, Shri Sidharth Priya Srivastav, Shri Shailendra Tiwari Babbloo, Shri Naresh Balmiki, Shri Mohammad Yusuf, Shri Shabar Zaidi, Shri Sikandar Abbas, Shri Santosh Srivastav, Shri Prabhjyot Singh Batra Lucky, Shri Dabir Khan, Shri Pappu Khan, Shri Hira Lal, Sardar Poni Singh, Shri Aditya Vikram Singh, Md. Aftab, Shri Shashank Shukla, Shri Nitam Sachan, Shri Govind Sharma and lot of

other who got injured. Dr. Khatri and injured Congress workers were admitted to Balrampur Hospital and the Civil Hospital. Prominent people who participated in the ghearao demonstration were Shri Sanjay Kapur (MLA), Shri Ajay Rai, Shri Aklesh Pratap Singh, Shri Ajay Kumar, Shri Laliteshapte Tripathi, Smt. Aradharna Mishra, Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, Shri Banshi Pahadia with all MLAs, former minister Shri Ramkrishan Dwivedi with lot of others. Thereafter, around two thousand five hundred Congressmen were arrested

NEWS including National secretary, Shri Rana Goswamy, Shri Zuber Khan, Shri Naseeb Singh, Shri Prakash Joshi, Shri Pramod Tiwari and Shri Raj Babbar (MP), Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi were also arrested. The arrested Congressmen were taken to Police Line in buses who were later released. On this occasion Congress membership was given to all those people who left the other parties which had Aap Party leader from Kanpur, Smt. Mamta Tiwari with her colleagues. Shri Sachin, District Parishad member also took Congress membership with Khajni, former contestant from the Vidhan Sabha area.

secretary incharge Shri Madhusudan Mistry MP was the chief guest. Others in the meeting were AICC secretaries, Shri Zuber Khan and Shri Prakash Joshi with Vidhan Parishad leader, Shri Naseeb Pathan. The meeting was called to thank all the districts and City Congress presidents and vice-presidents for waking the gherao programme of the UP Vidhan Sabha a success despite the barbaric lathi charge on them by the police on the directive of the state government and which was strongly condemned.

In t h e e v e n i n g C o n g r e s s Vi c e President Shri Rahul Gandhi contacted AICC general secretar y incharge, Shri Madhusudan Mistry and UPCC president, Dr. Nirmal Khatri and asked about their wellness and also criticized the barbaric lathi-charge by the police. Shri Madhusudan Mistri (MP), Dr. Nirmal Khatri said though police resorted to lathi-charge but the Congress workers will not be cowed down by such barbaric attitude. Congress struggle has remained a history and in the coming days this struggle will be taken to tehsil and district level and would expose the state government. Shri Mistry and Dr. Khatri thanked thousands of Congress workers who came to show their anger against the policies of the state government and against the atrocities perpetrated by the government. Both the leaders said that the police resorted to lathi-charge on the direction of the state government which reminded of the British government.

Party workers thanked Lucknow: A meeting of district and City Congress presidents and vice-presidents and presided over by UPCC president, Dr. Nirmal Khatri was convened here on 27 August, 2015. AICC general

Shri Madhusudan Mistry said that in the coming panchayat elections, Congress has to contest on all seats and to take the Congress flag and banner to every village and hamlet to make the party strong and all those district council members who are elected and those who lose but get good number of votes will be given priority in tickets for the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.

Before the meeting, Shri Madhusudan Mistry inaugurated the expansion project for the Media/Conference hall and other senior leaders including Dr. Nirmal Khatri were present.

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Police action condemned Aligarh: On the call given by UPCC president, Dr. Nirmal Khatri to expose the failures of the UP government on all fronts the Congress workers ghearoed the UP Assembly in Lucknow on 17th August, 2015 in peaceful demonstration but the police lathi-charged the Congress protestors. Aligarh City C ongress president and AICC spokesperson, Shri Vivek Bansal led the Congress workers from Aligarh who participated in the protest demonstrations in Lucknow. Shri Bansal said that police resorted to lathi-charge on the peaceful Congress demonstration which was uncalled for in which many Congressmen were injured. He said that Raju, Bijender Singh, Baghel, Nadeem Alvi from Aligarh received injuries due to police lathi-charge. Shri Bansal accused the Samajwadi government for the deteriorating law and order in the state and also criticized the brutal action of the police on the Congress workers and condemned the police action.

Protest March on suspension of 25 Congress MPs Allahabad: Congressmen here protested against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs from Parliament and marched in protest from Anand Bhawan to Balsan crossing where the statue of Babuji is erected here on 5th August, 2015. On the occasion UPCC coordination Committee member and spokesperson, Shri Kishore Varshney, who led the protest march, said that this action taken by the Speaker was on the directive of Prime Minister Modi. This is the murder of democracy. Terming Modi government as dictatorial, he said that the Congress Party would not spare the Modi government on the issues involving Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje, Lalit Modi, black

NEWS money and Vyapam scandal and would not settle less than their resignations. He also accused the Modi government of failing on all fronts. Also present in the protest march were UPCC Minority Department vicechairman Fuzail Hashmi, City Congress Media incharge Parvez Siddiqi, PCC Member Dr. Pamesh Jaiswal, Arun Chaurasia, S.S. Malviya, Keshav Passi, Ajay Mishra, Sanjay Srivastav, Anil Mishra, Mukhtarul Haq Ansari, Ajay Srivastav, Sayeed Shabil, P.C. Pandey, Hasan Raza, Anil Srivastav, Md. Sartaj, Anil Gupta, Ram Naragan Mishra, Ajajul Haq, Rajendra Jaiswal, Rajesh Pandey with others.

Daman Virodh Diwas A l l a h ab a d : L o c a l C on g re s s m e n observed ‘Daman Virodh Diwas’ here on 19th August, 2015 in protest against the lathi-charge on party workers in Lucknow on (Monday) 17 th August. Partymen assembled at the Collectorate before submitting the memorandum addressed to the Governor of the State. They accused the State government of suppressing their peaceful agitation. A large number of workers including senior leaders were injured in the brutal police lathi-charge. Congressmen demanded judicial probe and strict action against the police officials who ordered the lathi-charge. UPCC General Secretary and Ex-Mayor Ch. Jitendra Nath Singh, said, raising the issue related to common man is right in democracy. UPCC Spokesperson Kishore Varshney said that partymen were moving peacefully in a procession towards the Vidhan Sabha. Without any warning or provocation the cops started lathi charge on Congressmen which is condemnable. Later they submitted the memorandum

to district magistrate addressed to the Governor. UPCC VC minority dept. Fuzail Hashmi, Abhishek Shukla, Dr. Ramesh Jaiswal, S.S. Malviya, Mamta Maurya, Parvez Siddiqui, Manas Sharma, Devesh Rajan, Arun Chaurasiya, Anil Srivastva, P.C. Pandey, Syed Shakeel, Ajay Srivastava, Abdul Gani, Anil Gupta, Bhola Singh, Izazul Haq, Mukhtarul Ansari, Kesav Pasi, Anil Mishra, Rajendra Jaiswal, Mohd. Sartaz and many others were present on the occasion.

Freedom fighters honoured Kanpur: Congressmen, led by former UPCC secretar y, Pradeep Mishra celebrated the 73rd Quit India Movement day here on 9th August, 2015 at the Amar Jawan Chowk. Shri Mishra and Congress workers paid tributes to all those Congressmen who sacrificed their lives in the freedom movement. Freedom fighters, Shri Ramshankar Srivastav and Shashikant Shukla were honoured by Pradeep Mishra and MLA Ajay Kapoor. Shri Ajay Kapoor also recalled the story of freedom in 1942 when Gandhiji gave the slogan of ‘Quit India’ at the Bombay session of the Congress. Prominently present were Shri Amit Madaan, Aand Babu Diwivedi, Vishal Sharma, Aditya Chaube, Dadri Mishra, Ajay Aansari, Bandhu Bajpayee and Sanjay Sorekar with others.

Memorandum Given Lucknow: City Congress Committee on 13 th August, 2015 took up the problems of the minority and have sent a memorandum to the Governor to look into their problems and to give them reservation in employment and against the harassment for spreading communal disturbances.

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UPCC Minorities Department Chairman, Haji Mehandi Hassan led the Congress delegation which handed over

the memorandum to the State Governor. The delegation consisted of Shri Mehandi Hassan, Pradesh General Secretary, Shri Maroof Khan, Senior leader, Shri Hanuman Tripathi, Dr. R.C. Seth, Javed Ansari, Satyadev Singh, Sardar Dilprit Singh and Salman Qadir.

Independence Day held Lucknow : The City Congress Committee Minority Department celebrated the Independence Day here on 15th August, 2015 by City President Shri Mehandi Hassan. Shri Subodh Srivastav, Chairman of the Publication Department was the Chief Guest while Shri Rashid Mirza conducted the programme.

NEWS Flag-hoisting ceremony was held and later school stationary was given to the children and sweets were districbuted among the people. Those present were Shri Subodh Srivastava, Dr. Javed Maish Ali, Agha Sekhar Jaidi, Aarshi Raza, Ram Kewal Tiwari, Ajit Kumar, Pankaj Kumar Tyagi, Amit Kumar, Md. Abbas Hassan, Ahmad Abbas, Afroz Zaidi, Dr. Ali Mazhor, Rajiv Mirza, Seema Sahu with others.

Effigy of Azam Khan burnt Meerut: District Congress Committee, led by its Vice-President, Md. Imran, burnt the effigy of SP Minister, Shri Azam Khan here on 9th August, 2015. Shri Imran said that Shri Azam Khan was speaking in the Vidhan Sabh that, “only the goonda elements were beaten up in the Congress rally which gheareod the Vidhan Sabha and no Congress MLA was beaten up. The effigy was burnt that Shri Azam Khan’s expression was soft on the barbaric way the police resorted to lathi-charge on the Congress rally in which many Congress leaders were injured in the Lucknow rally which included leaders like Shri Raj Babbar (MP), Shri Madhusudan Mistry, Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi (MLA), Pradesh President, Dr. Nirmal Khatri, Md. Imran and Shri Rikin Ahluwalia with other Congress activists. The Congress also demands an enquiry into this barbaric incident.

WEST BENGAL 3rd Annual conference of CGE&WF held Kolkata: The 3 Annual Conference of Central Government Employees & Worker Confederation, INTUC, West rd

Bengal was held on 12 August, 2015 at Moulali Yuba Kendra. Shri Ramen Pandey, President, INTUC, West Bengal inaugurated the conference as Chief Guest. Shri N.S. Pillai, General Secretary, All India Confederation of Central Government Workers, Shri R. Srinivasan, General Secretary, Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Shri Janardhan Reddy, JCM Member, Smt. Mahalakshmi, Nationla Secretary, of INTUC was present as a special guest.

TRIBUTES Nation pays tribute to our freedom fighters and distinguished leaders.

(1825-1917)

More than 1000 Central government employees were present. The problems of Central Government employees were discussed like implementation of 7th Pay Commission and was resolved for the success of the

(1888-1975)

(1895-1982)

All India General Strike called by all Central Trade Unions on 2nd September and the All India Central Government Employees Strike on 23 rd November, 2015. Shri Ramen Pandey was re elected as President of the confederation. Also present were Shri Binod Sharma, VicePresident, Shri Rajnjit Das, General Secretary-CLW, Shri Braja Madhab Ghosh, Secretary General, Shri S.P. Ojha, Working President, Shri Suvro Baran Chatterjee & Shri Asim Saha, and Organizing Secretaries of the confederation. v

(1847-1933)

(1907-1931)

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Dadabhai Naoroji Birth Anniversary 4th September

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Birth Anniversary 5th September

Vinoba Bhave Birth Anniversary 11th September

Annie Besant Death Anniversary 20th September

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Birth Anniversary 28th September

Interview Series We have started publishing a series of a special interview with the grass-root workers of the Congress Party. The first such interview was published in the July, 2014 issue. -­Editor

Interview with a dedicated congressperson Shri Yadav Ram Devgade, resident of Nagpur, is a freedom fighter. Born in 1929, in a dedicated Gandhian family he got involved in the freedom movement since childhood. He was very active in the Sevadal, and also got elected to various posts like MLA, etc. He continues working of the Khadi movement. - Interviewed by Dr. Jaya Shukla

Q. When and how did you get initiated in the Gandhian and the Congress principles? A. In a way, by birth. My father, and through him the whole family, strongly believed in the Mahatma’s principles. We all wore Khadi, which was also spun at our home. As a child, I kept hearing of Gandhiji’s teachings, and also witnessed the actions of my father. I grew up believing strongly in these.

Q. When did you actively got involved as a Congress activist? A. I was a young student during 1940, when due to my family’s influence on me, I got very active with my other student friends in the movement. My name became a bit notorious for the British. We were arrested and jailed in 1942. I managed to run away from the jail after a few months and worked underground. In 1945, legal cases were started against 40 of us, which ended with independence. After independence, I completed B.A. and L.L.B.

Q. What were your later activities as a Congressman? A. After independence I continued with social causes and the congress Sevadal. We run camps through the Sevadal, I am still active with it. I also continued with the Khadi movement as I strongly believed in the effect of Khadi on the economy. I still work for it. In 1962, on Congress ticket, I contested and won as a Mahanagharpalika Member in Nagpur. In 1965 we agitated and got the Palika dissolved. In 1967 won as a Congress MLA in Nagpur.

Q. Which is your most memorable time as a Congress activist? A. Meeting Nehruji and Indiraji in the Sevadal Adhiveshans, and listening to their ideas.

Q. Who is your ideal? A. Unquestionably Mahatma Gandhi. His tenets, ideas, modusoperandy, honesty, all are unmatched.

Q. What was the role of Congress is nation building? A. Everything creating a strong National feeling, while

eliminating castism and communalism, education, industry, economy, science, women empowerment, everything we see today, is given by the Congress.

Q. What difference do you find in the Congress now since then? A. The Congress then worked only for the public. Congress is a political party, and postindependence, its role expanded a lot. As such, and with times changing, some changes were bound to come. Though it is true that in some of our cadres, which are also being affected by the general political parties are all working to promote their cadres’ personal interests, rather than for their declared principles.

Q. What, according to you, needs to be done for Congress to regain its strength? A. It is true that the Congress did lose a lot of ground recently. Several different factors have led to it. As a result the cadres did become disheartened. But the Congress and its cadres are still strong and the lost ground can be regained with wisdom. The false propaganda against us is gradually being understood by people, who are realizing the non-functions and negative progress of non-congress governments. It is very important that the exemplary good works and schemes started by the Congress be advertised in a very organized manner. The opposition is very intelligently and slyly taking over the mantle of having done all of this, even including the technical works started 10 years back. The organization needs to be strengthened more. Exciting social welfare schemes should be made use of for the needy through congress related organizations and NGOs. The schools and colleges need to be visited by Congress NGOs with youth welfare work.

Q. What are your other interests? A. Social welfare and Khadi work. I am secretary of ‘KhadiMandal’ (Nagpur), which runs the “Khadi Bhavan” at Nagpur. I am also secretary of Maharashtra Artisans and President of the Freedom Fighter Samiti. v

Congress Sandesh | 52 | September 2015

Report

Mahila Congress

O

n 2nd August 2015 AIMC President Smt. Shobha Oza along with Smt. Pratima Singh, President, Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress and local Congress and Mahila Congress leaders visited village Biwar, District Hamirpur of Uttar Pradesh to meet the family of a girl who immolated herself because of insensitivity and lack of action on the part of local police in arresting boys who allegedly molested

by Smt. Onika Mehrotra President, Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress. To commemorate the values, attitudes and ideals of our  former Prime Minister of India Bharat Ratna Late  Shri Rajiv Gandhiji, the Delhi PMC celebrated his  71st  birth anniversary  very affectionately as  ”URJA DIVAS”. On 20th August 2015 she also attended a programme organized by Smt. Sumitra Chauhan in Gurgaon to celebrate the

the girl. The girl succumbed to burn injuries. She also went to village Anta, District Kanpur, which falls under the Parliamentary constituency of Smt. Dimple Yadav, wife of Shri Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, where another girl immolated herself by pouring Kerosene as she got fed up of eve-teasing by some boys .

71st Birth Anniversary of our beloved leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji as “Prerna Diwas. Sewing Machines and Shawls had been distributed to the needy women. Shri Bhupinder Singh, Shri Kuldeep Sharma, MLA, Shri Karan Dalal, MLA, Smt. Neetu Verma Soin, Secretary, AIMC & Incharge addressed the audience.

The office Bearers of All India Mahila Congress participated in a demonstration in front of BJP Headquarters on 4th August 2015. The demonstration was organized by Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress in protest against the illegal and undemocratic suspension of 25 Congress MPs from the Parliament.

Smt. Shobha Oza inaugurated the felicitation cum Training Program for the elected members to Gram panchayat from Congress Party belonging to Vishwakarma Community and the Scholarship Distribution Programme in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 26th August 2015. The programme was organized by Shri K.P. Nanjundi Vishwakarma, Gen. Secy. Karnataka PCC. She also attended Mahila Congress convention

On 18th August 2015, AIMC President attended a convention organized

Congress Sandesh | 53 | September 2015

organized by newly appointed President of Andhra Pradesh Mahila Congress Smt. Padmasree Sunkara in Vishakapatnam. Ex-central ministers Smt. Killi Kruparani, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju and all local leaders of the party attended the programme. About 1000 women were present in the programme. Massive demonstrations were held and effigies of Narendra Modi were burnt by Mahila Congress units throughout the country to register protest against price rise of onion, dal and other  necessary commodities like edible oil and vegetables etc that have gone beyond the reach of commonmen

and anti-poor policies of the Central Government and its failure. 20th August 2015 i.e. the Birth Anniversary of our beloved leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi was observed as ‘Sadbhawna Diwas’ by Mahila Congress units across the country at State and District-levels. All Mahila Congress units celebrated Independence Day with their respective PCCs. v (Dr. Shobhna Shah)

Press Briefings

AICC DIARY Terrorists have no religion

Spokesperson: Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad: He said that taking a strong exception to the statement of Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on ‘Hindu terror’, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha and Senior Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is an unsuccessful and cheap attempt on the part of BJP Government to divert attention of the nation from its failures to effectively deal with the menace of cross-border terrorism. Hitting out at the Home Minister for blaming the Congress Party to weaken the country’s stand against terrorism, Azad asserted that, India’s fight against terror got weakened long back when three dreaded terrorist were escorted to Kandahar by the Former External Affairs Minister in the NDA-1 Government, and in a meek surrender handed over to the enemies of the country. Azad reminded the Home Minister that it was the NDA Government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which shamefully decided to release three terrorists in 1999 for seeking release of the passengers on board the hijacked Air India flight. Complimenting Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the then Chief Minister of J&K for his stout refusal to agree to the release of the terrorists, Azad regretted that NDA Government forced him into submission, who had even offered to resign at that point of time. “Ï spoke to Dr. Farooq Abdullah today in the morning to seek a confirmation about the facts that have come in the public domain recently”, remarked Azad. Azad also referred to a recently released book of Sh. A. S. Dulat, Former Director of R.A.W. wherein a graphic account of the whole episode is given. How can the BJP give lectures to us? Azad wondered.  “You have meekly surrendered to the demands of the enemies of the country, your Minister escorted the three dreaded terrorists to a third country and handed them over to the enemies” said Azad. Ghulam Nabi Azad asserted that Congress Party has lost a sitting Prime Minister to the bullets of the terrorists; one Ex-Prime Minister, one Chief Minister, one Former Union Minister and scores of leaders and workers of Congress Party have sacrificed their lives due to terrorist violence. Commenting on the allegation of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, blaming Congress for coining the term ‘Hindu Terror’, Azad clarified that the then Home Minister wanted to educate the party cadres about terrorism being bereft of any colour or religion. Azad said that the then Home Minister of the UPA Govt., in the wake of increased terrorist violence in the country, had tried to bring home the point that certain interested political parties are attributing it to a particular religion and using phrases like “Islamic terrorism”, “Muslim Terrorism”, etc. which is not correct as during the course of investigations in Mecca Masjid Blast, Malegaon Blast and other blasts, National Investigation Agency (NIA) had come to the conclusion that there were members of other religions who were involved in those blasts.

To explain that terror has no religion or colour, the then Home Minister had simply asked “Would you call it Hindu terror”? And advised the party workers to be cautious about the attempts of some political parties to divide the country “Terrorism is terrorism and it has no religion”, is the message which the then Home Minister wanted to convey, said Azad. He also accused the BJP of picking up these remarks out of context to malign and defame the Congress Party and mislead the nation for cheap political gains To substantiate his point, Azad asked, who killed Indira Gandhi, who killed Rajiv Gandhi, who killed V.C. shukla ?, adding that Congress Party believes that terrorism has no religion as members of any religious belief can indulge in terrorist acts and therefore, the latest attempt by the BJP Govt. is to divide the country and polarize the society. Azad said that the polarization in the country on religious lines has aggravated ever since the BJP has come to power in May 2014. “It is deliberate attempt by the Home Minister to divide the country, to deflect the attention of the nation, to rake up the debate of Hindu vs Muslim, to use the forum of Parliament to malign and defame the Congress party, and above all once again instigate the narrative of polarization”, alleged Azad. Azad said that the BJP Govt. wants to cover up its failures to deal with the menace of terrorism by crafting a narrative of “Hindu vs Muslim terror”.

Unprovoked firing on borders

However, after coming to power and during the 14 months of the BJP Govt., there has been an unprecedented spurt in ceasefire violations and unprovoked firing on the borders by Pakistan, due to which people residing in those areas have been subjected to untold hardships without any pause. Azad said that more than 800 ceasefire violations have taken place in J&K in the past more than one year, leading to scores of causalities, both of security personnel as well as the civilians. Drawing attention towards the spurt in terrorist violations, Azad said that four ghastly terror attacks have taken place in the past eight months in the State of Jammu & Kashmir in which a number of security jawans, police personnel and civilians have lost their lives. “This Government was not in a hurry to discuss the terror attacks when our jawans and civilians were killed in Arnia, Uri, Raj Bagh and Samba”, asked Azad adding the entire opposition used to shout from rooftops to urge the Govt. to discuss heightened terrorist activities in J&K in the House and this Govt. was never in a hurry to respond to the demands of the Opposition. Accusing the BJP Govt. of trying to score political brownie points and to invent a pretext for breaking the Parliament Logjam by proposing a discussion on Gurdaspur terror attack, Azad said that the same BJP Govt. was never so enthusiastic to answer in Parliament when four ghastly terror attacks took place in J&K during

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Press Briefings the past seven months. Azad said the only aim of the BJP Govt. is to use the garb of discussing Gurdaspur terrorist attack to break the Parliament logjam by subterfuge. “As regards discussion and debate in Parliament, we want a comprehensive debate on cross border terrorism, however, the discussion can take place only when the House is in order”, said Azad. He further said that Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi has been in touch with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief since the taking of oath and he, therefore, needs to apprise the Parliament and the nation about his ongoing talks and dialogue with Pakistan Prime Minister, the latest round of which took place in Ufa in Russia. Azad said that the nation would like to know why, in spite of the so much of bonhomie and many rounds of talks, the BJP Govt. and the Prime Minister have failed to take a concrete assurance from Pakistan as far as bringing an end to cross border terrorism is concerned. Questioning the NDA Govt.’s policy towards Pakistan, Azad asserted that inspite of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi having a number of meetings with the Pakistan Prime Minister, including the last meeting in Ufa in Russia, the belligerence of Pakistan towards India has increased manifold. “The spirit of UFA was lost even before the Prime Minister landed on the soil of his country, and today while I am holding this press briefing, ceasefire violations at two places in J&K are taking place”, said Azad adding that in the past five days, six ceasefire violations and one terror attack have taken place. Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the policy of NDA govt. towards Pakistan and terror has been motivated by political considerations and not the long term interests of the country. Saturday, 1st August, 2015.

Obduracy and obstinacy of the Government

Spokesperson: Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi: He said that as the session draws to a close, the obduracy and obstinacy of the Government is matched only by the studied silence of the Prime Minister. We are happy that the BJP, the Prime Minister, Mr. Arun Jatiley, are finding the GST to be so much in the public interest. This wisdom appears to have dawned after consistent obdurate obstruction for seven long days. You have press cuttings which show officially that one of the principal reasons why Gujarat, under the then stewardship of our present Prime Minister, opposed GST, because of several judicial proceedings going on against Mr. Amit Shah. Dr. Singhvi said, Yes, GST should ultimately come. But since today as late as today, an attempt was made to again introduce GST without the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) discussing it in any manner.  Without the BAC at all proposing to be on the Agenda, the BJP and the Leader o the House in the Upper House are projecting misinformation as if to suggest that the extremely poor performance of the Government on the Economic Front is because of the GST. Dr. Singhvi said few facts are interesting here. With all the talk about ‘Make in India’, with all the talk about Economic Recovery and Buoyancy, the Factory Output in the month of May of this year, as opposed to May of last year is 2.7% Vs. 5.6% in the May of last year. Capital Goods Growth last year 4.2%, this year in May 1.8% - Figures of May are important because those are by the Index of Industrial

Production. It is a fundamental barometer of Make-in-India, of Manufacturing-in-India and these figures show a threefold decline in Capital Goods growth this year. 2.7% Factory Output this year and 5.6% Factory Output last year same month. Similarly Consumer Goods growth was 4.6% last year and 1.6% in this year. The cumulative Growth figures I have for April and May last year Vs. this year it is half, one third or one fourth compared to last year. Any parameter you take, any criteria you take, you take the basic Goods criteria, you take the intermediate goods criteria, therefore, you are really trying to create confusion for covering up your own Economic failures, your own lack of growth which you have talked about day and night. The opposition of the Congress has been and is and remains very principled and therefore, there was no occasion today to introduce in the Agenda without the BAC ever so deciding in any meeting after the Select Committee reported on it. I must repeat very briefly the principal objections which are entirely based on national interest and public interest. One of the objections is that the rate must have a limitation, a ceiling. It can be 15%, it can be 18%. Now we said that the rate must be cast in stone and frozen into the text of the law. The objection is that why should it be written in the law. It makes it rigid. It is forgotten that there are several provisions of the Constitution which ride the rate in the text itself. The same GST Amendment Bill has mentioned e.g. 1% as a figure in the text itself, so why this objection to fixing a ceiling. Our objection was based on the point that if you do not have a ceiling, you will incrementally increase every year and that is retrograde. The second objection is that because of the Congress stand, all the States have been now told, after a lot of gap that 100% compensation for loss of revenue to individual States will be given for 5 years. This was not so earlier. This a major victory for Congress stand but having then agreed, they have now put in the Bill. The second objection to the GST Amendment, they now propose an additional tax of 1%.Where has the additional tax of 1%, has come from. You will be astonished to know that the Chief Economic Advisor of the Government of India considers this 1% additional tax as retrograde. Eminent Economists consider it retrograde, the Select Committee had commented adversely but it is there. It is written in the text of the Amended Law. The third issue which we raised was that when there is a dispute between the States, as is very likely, you must create an Independent Resolution Body. This is common sense. The Government obdurately and obstinately insists that the Dispute Resolution Body should be the GST Council itself. You are aware that the GST Council will consist of the disputed party themselves. If the dispute is amongst the Members of the GST Council, how can the GST Council be a Dispute Resolution Body? It is a recipe for disaster; it is a recipe for-non decision. All that we asked for was an independent Adjudicatory or Dispute Resolution Body. Is it asking too much? The GST creates a common market. How do you have a common market when you leave aside very-very big items which are very important contributors of the total tax kitty? You just want to grab the headlines, you want to push through quickly, so do you know that 1/4th  of the items which contribute to 1/4th  of the tax are excluded by the Government from this GST Amendment. That is only a 3/4th Act or Amendment. The items excluded are Electricity Supply very-very major contributor Tobacco and Alcohol.

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Press Briefings The Congress and many other parties agreed to discuss it but to discuss it on an Adjournment Motion Notice basis. As you know the Adjournment Notice basis can lead to censure, can lead to resolution and can lead to decision. The Government insisted, till the end that it should be discussed under Rule 193 which is mere discussion with no ‘nishkarsh’ (decision). The Congress Party would request the Presiding Officers of each House to be vigilant in not allowing these ulterior motives of the ruling party and the Government which we have repeatedly seen acts by stealth and usurpation in many ways both in the Upper House and in the Lower House. Tuesday, 11th August, 2015

BJP’s Acrimony

Spokesperson: Shri P. Chidambaram: He said that “The monsoon session of Parliament has come to an end. It started with BJP’s acrimony and ended with more acrimony on their part. Is anyone wiser at the end of the session on ‘Modi Gate Issue’ that was the cause of so much debate? Yesterday, Ms. Sushma Swaraj and Mr. Arun Jaitley put up a last ditch effort. They did everything EXCEPT answer the crucial questions that arose out of Ms. Sushma Swaraj’s intervention on behalf of Mr. Lalit Modi. Even as they tried to deflect the questions, some facts tumbled out. These are:1. That Ms. Sushma Swaraj intervened with the British High Commissioner on behalf of Mr. Lalit Modi at a time when his passport had been cancelled and the case was pending in the High Court. 2. That the Ministry of External Affairs has so far not appealed against the order of the High Court setting aside the cancellation of the passport. 3. That there was correspondence between the Finance Minister (India) and the Chancellor of Exchequer (UK) in which India had demanded that Mr. Lalit Modi be deported forthwith. Given these undeniable facts, did Ms. Sushma Swaraj or Mr. Arun Jaitley answer the crucial questions? The answer is NO. There are basically three sets of questions. And for the record let me repeat them: 1. THE MINISTER’S INTERVENTION If Ms. Sushma Swaraj wished to help Mr. Lalit Modi on purely humanitarian grounds, why did she not advise him to apply to the Indian High Commission in London for a temporary Indian travel document valid for visiting only Portugal? Why did she not instruct the Foreign Secretary and the High Commissioner to issue a temporary travel document valid only for Portugal? Why did she keep her Ministry in the dark about her intervention? Why did she think that Mr. Lalit Modi deserved to get a British travel document rather than an Indian travel document?

2. THE PASSPORT CASE Why has an appeal not been filed to the Supreme Court against the judgment of the High Court in the passport cancellation case? What was the advice given by the Government’s lawyers and the Ministry of Law on the question of filing an appeal? Who took the decision not to file an appeal? Was it the Ministry of External Affairs or the Ministry of Finance or the Enforcement Directorate? What were the reasons for that decision? Why have the reasons not been made public? 3.  THE CHIDAMBARAM-OSBORNE CORRESPONDENCE Why is the Government refusing to release the letters between the Finance Ministers of the two countries? Why are Mr. Jaitley and Ms. Swaraj selectively quoting a few words from the letters instead of releasing the full text of the letters? What has the release of the letters got to do with the investigation into alleged violations of FEMA or PMLA? How will the release of the letters prejudice the investigation or help Mr. Lalit Modi? Which Ministry or authority has objected to the release of the letters and, if so, under which provision of the RTI Act? LIES ABOUT BOFORS We take strong exception to the blatantly false references made by Ms. Sushma Swaraj to the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi and alleged payments to him by Mr. Quattrocci. I wish to ask Ms. Swaraj if she was aware of an FIR registered by the CBI into a number of persons shown as accused including Shri Rajiv Gandhi? Was she aware of the judgment dated 04.02.2004 of Mr. Justice Kapoor of Delhi High Court? Why did she not turn to Mr. Arun Jaitley and seek confirmation of her allegations? If she had, she would have got a rude shock. She would have been told who was the Government’s counsel in that case and who was the Law Minister at that time?  She would have been told what the findings and conclusions of the High Court were. She would also have been told what the Government did after the judgment was pronounced. Since Ms. Sushma Swaraj was either ignorant (which it is difficult to believe) or deliberately uttering falsehoods, I wish to read a few paragraphs i.e. paras 3, 4, 140 and 141(i) and others of the judgment for benefit of Smt. Swarajas also people of India. Truth is for everyone to see. I am afraid that the two Ministers of the Government have failed the Government and the people. Instead of a debate, we got a diatribe. Instead of answers, we got sermons. Instead of facts, we got a fudge. If the Ministers think that these questions will go away, I am afraid they will not.” Thursday, 13th August, 2015 v

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UPCC Chintan Shivir

A Report

Evolve team spirit, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tells party workers Party must work like Steve Jobs’ Apple, Rahul Gandhi tells Congress workers

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh): Congress Vice-President Shri Rahul Gandhi on 21st September, 2015 urged party workers to embrace the team spirit created by the late Steve Jobs to revive Apple’s fortunes if they were to regain the lost ground in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a Uttar Pradesh Congress Party’s Chintin Shivir in Mathura, a meeting to discuss ways to revive the UPCC after the 2014 poll debacle, Shri Rahul Gandhi said the Congress had an inclusive philosophy that set it part from organizations like the RSS. “The party must work like Steve Jobs’ Apple and be open to all opinions and not just some leaders. We (Congress) allow people to have different ideologies, unlike the RSS,” he said. “The Congress party is not like the RSS which guides the government. Every member’s voice is heard here, unlike what happens under (RSS chief) Shri Mohan Bhagwat,” he said. Shri Rahul Gandhi’s talk of accommodating differences of opinion can also be understood as a way to address concerns about his own leadership that have been raised by senior members of the party. Shri Rahul Gandhi said that he used to see the Congress party’s cadre in Uttar Pradesh as his sena (army) but now saw them instead as a family who would work for each other. Urging his partymen to work as a family, Gandhi said: “Earlier, I used to see you all like an army, but now I see you as my family members and we have to work together, take care of each other as family members.” “We accept everyone’s opinion, whether we agree or not,” the Congress vice-president added. The Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 and the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have largely dominated the State’s politics. In the 2014 Lok Congress Sandesh | 57 | September 2015

UPCC Chintan Shivir Sabha polls, the party secured only two out of the 80 seats. Attacking PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said that ‘Modi had said don’t be scared, achche din will come, now farmers are committing suicide.’ “He has promised good days to farmers. Now farmers are committing suicide. Wherever I go in the country, the farmers are abusing Modiji. They are not criticizing but abusing. Youths are not getting jobs and despite making repeated promises thrice, OROP has not been given yet.  Rahul Gandhi also urged his partymen to imbibe the ‘team culture’ of Steve Jobs’ Apple and shun rigid hierarchies like the RSS in its bid to regain lost ground in UP. Addressing a meeting of Congress workers, Shri Rahul Gandhi stressed that they should be united in order to occupy the space that would be created by Shri Modi’s exit. He said that the Prime Minister has not fulfilled his poll promises and is “damaging himself ” much more than Congress could have inflicted on him.  We have to make our place. Modiji is bound to go down but when he goes, we have to fill that space,” he said. Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi, arrived at the meeting after visiting the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura. v

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