Senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi has articulated the Indian National Congress's core philosophy, positioning it as a sustained movement dedicated to the nation's most vulnerable citizens. In a significant statement, he traced the party's evolution from the freedom struggle to its current focus on welfare and social justice.
The Congress as a People's Movement
Jarkiholi emphasised that the story of the Congress is not merely a political chronicle but the narrative of a people's movement. He stated that the party has consistently stood, without wavering, with India's weakest, poorest, and most marginalised sections across generations. This foundational principle, he argued, distinguishes its political approach.
The leader connected the party's historic role in securing India's independence to its modern-day mandate of ensuring dignity and equity. The transition, as per his analysis, is from fighting for political freedom to championing economic and social freedom through inclusive policies.
From Independence to Welfare State
Jarkiholi's commentary frames the Congress's journey as a logical progression from Independence to welfare. The party's post-independence governance, he suggested, was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a welfare state through various affirmative actions, rights-based legislation, and poverty-alleviation programmes aimed at social upliftment.
This approach underscores a long-term commitment to social justice, which remains a central pillar of the party's ideology. The focus on the marginalised is presented as an unwavering constant through decades of political change.
The Unwavering Commitment to the Marginalised
The core of Jarkiholi's argument rests on the party's alignment with disenfranchised communities. He portrayed the Congress as the primary political vehicle that has historically amplified the voices of those on the fringes of society.
In the current political landscape, this translates to advocating for policies that address inequality, provide safety nets, and ensure equitable development. The leader's statement, made on 30 December 2025, serves as a reassertion of this doctrine ahead of future electoral challenges.
Ultimately, Jarkiholi's perspective offers a clear lens through which the Congress views its own legacy and future: as an enduring movement for social justice, fundamentally tied to the welfare of every Indian, especially the most disadvantaged.
