The Indian National Congress commemorated its 140th foundation day on Sunday with a firm declaration from its leadership that the party, as an ideology, remains undefeated. The event, held at the party's Indira Bhawan headquarters in New Delhi, saw top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, and Ajay Maken in attendance, rallying workers for a renewed mass movement.
An Ideology That Lives On
Addressing the gathering, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge delivered a powerful rebuttal to critics who have written the party's obituary. "Congress is an ideology and ideologies never die," he asserted. He acknowledged the party's reduced political power but emphasized its unwavering principles. "Our power may be less, but our spine is still straight. We have not compromised - not with the Constitution, not with secularism, and not with the rights of the poor," Kharge stated, adding that while the party may not be in office, it would not bargain on its core values.
A Battle for India's Soul
Kharge framed the current political struggle as a fundamental fight to preserve the nation's democratic fabric. He warned that the Constitution and democracy are under grave threat and called for a united effort to 'save the democracy'. "This fight is not merely electoral. It is a battle for the soul of India. If Congress does not fight, who will protect the Constitution and democracy?" he questioned. He accused the BJP-led government of the past 11 years of systematically weakening institutions established by the Congress.
Echoing this sentiment on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi described the Congress as more than a political party. He called it "the voice of India's soul" that has consistently stood with the weak, deprived, and hardworking citizens. "The resolve is to fight even more strongly the battle for truth, courage, and to protect the Constitution against hatred, injustice and dictatorship," his post read.
Call for Grassroots Mobilization
Looking ahead, Kharge used the occasion to issue a clarion call to Congress workers across the country. He urged them to unite and intensify outreach at the grassroots level. A central focus of this mobilization will be the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which he termed a "vital lifeline for the poor and vulnerable." The aim is to build a widespread public movement around this and other issues concerning the common people.
The 140th foundation day event served as both a reflection on the party's long history and a strategic rallying point for its future. The messages from the leadership underscored a shift in narrative, positioning the Congress not just as a political contender but as the primary defender of constitutional values and social welfare in the face of what it perceives as rising authoritarianism.
