Thought Camp: Congress says it will change itself to meet the challenge first

Ahead of its brainstorming conclave here, Congress on Thursday stressed that it is the main opposition party but is aware of its “imperfections” and is ready to “transform” itself by working on its ideals and organization.

The team said it would introspect in the next three days to start a new direction by tackling various challenges and paving the way for a brighter future for the country. The three-day ‘Nab Sankalp Chintan Shibir’ is being held against the backdrop of electoral defeat and disagreement within the party which has seen a sharp decline in the last seven years. The camp will focus on timely party restructuring, finding ways to combat the politics of polarization, and preparing for war for the upcoming election challenges.

Highlighting the importance of the Conclave, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress was the main opposition party in the country and the people expected it.

He said the camp would send a new message to the country and through it the team would reach out to people across the country.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the session was being held at a time when the country was facing the challenge of polarization.

The BJP is pursuing a policy of hatred and division in the country and needs to find answers on how to deal with it, he said.

“Organizational change must be brought. At a time when the country is facing multiple challenges, it is only natural that the Congress should fulfill its responsibility to the people and express their concerns. That is why we are holding a new resolution camp, ”he told reporters. “We know that the country has expectations from the Congress. We know we have limitations, we know we have flaws, and we know we need to improve our ideals and organization and adapt to changing circumstances and change ourselves. With this in mind, we have organized this thinking camp, ”said Surjewala.

“As a result of this conclave from the brave land of Udaipur, we think it will not only guide the Congress to face the present challenges but also pave the way for a golden future for India,” he said.

Gehlot added that there would never be a ‘Congress-free India’ and that those who wanted it would be destroyed.

He emphasized that the party had a long tradition of defections, ranging from former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to former Punjab Chief Minister Beyant Singh, noting that the country was governed by Congress.

It is unfortunate that despite this, those in power are now asking what the Congress has done in the last 70 years, said the Rajasthan Chief Minister.

“The constitution is being attacked, democracy is under threat and tensions are running high,” he said.

“The media is under pressure and I salute those who are behaving fairly and in a balanced way. The way things are going in the country, there is an atmosphere of tension and violence which is a cause of concern for every Indian, “the Rajasthan chief minister told a news conference.

“It’s not a general thinking camp. The Congress has to give a new message to the people of the country from this camp. The team will come up with a new ‘resolution’ from this conclave and then reach out to the people, “Gehlot said.

Surjewala said the conference was also aimed at discussing the challenges facing the country, such as the “free fall of the economy”, increasing inequality of resources, rising commodity prices, and the transfer of “deep-rooted conspiracies”. The agricultural sector belongs to a select group of private corporates.

He said there would be “attacks” on India’s territorial integrity by China, attacks on the rights of Dalits, SCs / STs and minorities and attempts to divide it using Hindu-Muslim rhetoric.

“As India is plagued by a painful line of division and hatred, it is imperative for the Indian National Congress to uphold the policy of the Indian nation and find a lasting solution for peaceful coexistence,” Surjewala told a media briefing.

“We know that India will review our organizational skills, capabilities, capabilities, but expect to adapt to the current situation and challenges,” he said.

Surjewala alleged that the “bulldozers of bigotry”, superstition, sectarianism, bigotry, injustice and intolerance “piled up on the nation” by the BJP government had largely trampled on India’s progress. “Congress has selected six issues and formed groups and submitted their preliminary reports for examination.” These groups are political, social justice and empowerment, the economy, congressional organizations, peasants and farm laborers (peasants and farm laborers) and youth. These teams will present their first impressions for a final discussion during the camp.

The 450 people invited to the ‘Thinking Camp’ will be divided into different groups and they will discuss and discuss different aspects and challenges for three days to create a roadmap. “The conclusions will be presented to the Congress President and then, to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for final size and approval,” Surjewala said.

The roadmap will not only pave the way for Congress to move forward with the current set of “reversals and challenges,” but also pave the way for a resilient, strong and inclusive nation, he said.

The Congress, which has risen to the aspirations of the nation, will introspect, think and reflect on the way forward and new milestones in the session, he said. In order to overcome the internal challenges and electoral shocks, the Congress will focus on party restructuring in a timely manner to strengthen the organization and formulate a strategy for future alliances.

Sending a clear message to critics within the organization, Congress President Sonia Gandhi warned before a session of the CWC meeting earlier this week that self-criticism was needed in party forums but not to undermine confidence and morale, as she emphasized that ” It is time for the party to repay our debt.

Gandhi further warned that the ‘thinking camp’ should not become a ritual and stressed that he was determined to initiate a restructured organization so that it could meet the many ideological, selective and managerial tasks facing it.

The issue of leadership in the Congress is not likely to be discussed at the Udaipur Conclave, party sources said, though a number of leaders may demand Rahul Gandhi to lead the party.