The two strands of thought in the Congress about how to deal with the Modi government were out in the open at the AICC session here Wednesday, as party leaders discussed the main resolution to be adopted – one which believes in aggressive criticism of the government and opposition to its every move, and the minority view that the party should put forth a positive, alternative narrative instead of just negativism, even while pinpointing faults of the government.
From Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to upcoming leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar and Imran Pratapgarhi, a large section who spoke slammed the BJP government’s politics of hate and listed out its “high-handed ways”, including “the capture of institutions” and “attacks on minorities” – usual talking points in the Congress’s political rhetoric.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was asked to second the resolution that was moved by Sachin Pilot, struck a different note. Saying that the party was “reviving” and ready to face the challenges of tomorrow, Tharoor – who incidentally was Kharge’s challenger in the Congress president elections – said: “We need to retain and restore the votes we won before but have failed to win in the last three elections. That is where the resolution leads us… in which we express constructive criticism and not mere unrelenting negativity. Our resolution starts off by showcasing our nationalism upfront rather than ceding nationalism to the other side.”
In his inaugural address, Kharge raised the party’s off-on EVM claims, and the allegation that the BJP won the Maharashtra Assembly polls through an “unprecedented fraud”. Hence, he demanded, the country should return to the ballot paper. “The whole world is moving from EVMs to ballot paper, but we are using EVMs,” he said, putting his faith in youngsters to lead the demand for a return to ballot paper.
On those who ask for proof of these claims, Kharge said: “You have devised such techniques that they benefit the ruling party and put the Opposition at a disadvantage… What kind of voter list did they make?… The Maharashtra elections were a fraud. The same thing happened in Haryana on a smaller scale.”
Moving on to another oft-repeated Congress claim, Kharge accused the Modi government of “selling off” government assets to benefit crony capitalists. “One day, the Modi government and Modi himself will sell this country.”
The Congress president spoke about the tariffs imposed by the US and said the Modi government had not allowed even a discussion on it in Parliament. He described the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday on governors’ role as a slap that the Centre will not forget too easily.
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Kharge went on to give a stern message to “non-performers” in the party, saying those who do not help the Congress or fulfil their responsibilities should retire.
In his speech, Tharoor cautioned against depending on just past glory even as the AICC session underlined the same, from the venue to the messaging. The Thiruvananthapuram MP said: “The Congress is now in its 140th year and the party has an illustrious history. But we are all too conscious that the young voters who are the majority today do not apparently give much importance to history. They want to know what we will do for them and what kind of tomorrow we can provide them.”
He added: “Our resolution will be judged by that, and that is what we must focus on. The Congress must be a party of hope and not of resentment, a party of positivity, not only of negativism, a party of the future, not just of the past, a party with a positive narrative, and not just criticism. I hope we will leave here with a resounding message to the nation that we are here, we will fight, that we will be resolute, we will focus on the future, and we will build a better India for all.”
Shafi Parambil, another Congress MP from Kerala, which goes to elections next year, also spoke of the need for “a futuristic approach” and “ideological clarity”. While accusing the BJP and its government of targeting minorities, Parambil said: “We are not sharing some dreams here. We have to talk about some plans… We have to see action. We have to learn new tools. The ground has changed, the pitch has changed, the format has changed, the old playbook may not help us move forward.”
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Parambil urged the party to focus on the youth and “support youngsters in each and every venture”. “Let us ideologically be clear, let us be futuristic, let us talk about the youngsters and the future generation, and let us have a plan and act according to the plan.”
