Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Vicky Nanjappa and Krishnakumar Padmanabhan
Seeking to defend the comments made by Congress General Secretary Gandhi on Hindu terror, the Congress at its plenary session in New Delhi resolved to call upon the government to tackle this menace in the strongest possible manner and investigate links between terrorists and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its sister organisations that have been uncovered in recent cases.
Slamming the Left parties, the Congress in its resolution passed in the party's 83rd plenary, said that in states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the Congress emphatically rejects all attempts to perpetrate a cycle of violence for political or electoral advantage.
"The party is alarmed by the increased attempts to control and capture areas and zones by violent means and intimidation. Politics based on 'capture' and 'recapture' of areas and attempts to create safe zones by violence and intimidation must be defeated," the party said in its resolution....
Protecting Yeddyurappa is hypocrisy: Cong
"After the shameful findings of the Kargil scam and taped revelations of murky purchases, putting national security at risk and bringing shame to the country, the BJP refused to act and in fact rehabilitated the then defence minister before even te completion of inquiry," the party resolution said.
It said the BJP had a history of double standards on corruption involving "seniormost leadership and occupants of highest offices including chief minister and ministers."
In protecting the Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and others accused of plundering national resources, the BJP and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have "demonstrated their moral bankruptcy and political hypocrisy," the party said.
"The BJP has unleashed a flood of corruption in the political arena just to grab power," the resolution said, slamming the opposition party for giving an open call to other parties' MLAs to cross the floor.
"Various methods have been adopted to defeat the very purpose of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution on anti-defection," it said.'RSS insidious in its efforts to break India'
Taking a dig at the Congress biggest nemesis Narendra Modi, it said, "The BJP, RSS and the VHP continue to hide their prejudice and atrocities committed by them behind the rhetoric of economic progress and pseudo-nationalism. We cannot be indifferent to the plight of our fellow citizens in Gujarat who have suffered untold misery. The Congress urges the government to relentlessly prosecute all those responsible for the unforgivable genocide that occurred in large parts of Gujarat in 2002."
'Ayodhya verdict didn't condone Babri Masjid demolition'
Asking workers and leaders to identify and address regional issues, the party said, "We have been in the opposition in certain states for a very long time. And this has meant a shift in power dynamics on the ground where our party workers are demoralised."
The resolution of the Congress passed at the plenary deals with several points ranging from the Ayodhya verdict to internal security, Jammu and Kashmir to combating communal forces.
"We must await the final verdict of the Supreme Court and all members of the party should strain every nerve to heal the wounds caused by communal disturbances and promote the values of secularism. The Liberhan commission report is now in the hands of the people and the party urges the government to act expeditiously on the findings of the commission," the resolution said.'Left-wing extremism, a grave threat'
Terrorism, insurgency and left-wing extremism are grave threats and the Prime Minister has spelt out the government's policy. Though law and order is a state subject it is necessary to ensure sustained coordination between the centre and the states both in matters of overall strategy, the resolution said.
"In dealing with left-wing extremism we must combine firm action to restore civilian administration with a surge in people oriented and environment friendly development activity. Developmental work at the grassroot level should fall within the domain of the tribal communities and a special legislation needs to be enacted on this behalf," it added.
The role of religious fundamentalist organisations in challenging the security of the nation can no longer be ignored. The Congress calls upon the government to tackle this menace in the strongest possible manner and investigate links between terrorists and the RSS and its sister organisations that have been uncovered in recent cases. Terrorism from wherever it comes and whatever form it takes must be dealt with firmly, the resolution said.
BJP's disruption of Parliament speaks ill of our democracy
The BJP has led the disruption of the 6th session of the Lok Sabha in complete disregard of their duty under the constitution. This does not speak well of our mature democracy. The Congress urges the people to understand the malicious designs of the opposition parties, it said.
"Vested political interests seek to malign our institutions and the office of the Prime Minister will not allow them to be denigrated by anyone. In states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura the Congress emphatically rejects all attempts to perpetrate a cycle of violence for political or electoral advantage by political parties," the Congress said.
"We have been in opposition in certain states for a long period and this has meant a shift in the power dynamics on the ground where our party workers are demoralised. Every Congress worker and state party unit has a responsibility to strengthen the organisational base of the party," it added.The party is committed to discharging its responsibilities towards the welfare of the minorities. We are happy that the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission are under implementation," it said.
The party also passed resolutions in respect to women's empowerment, Panchayat Raj, Youth and education, the resolution said.
article