‘It’s time for Congress to self-reflect’
UDAIPUR: Calling for urgent reforms in the party as “extraordinary situations demand extraordinary action”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Friday that it was time for the party to “self-reflect” as the situation that the party is confronted with is “unprecedented”.
While kick-starting threeday Chintan Shivir at Rajasthan’s Udaipur, the Congress chief stressed that the party will have to change its style of functioning and urged them to keep the organisation above their personal ambitions and pay back their debt
to the party as it had given a lot to everyone.
“Every organisation, not just for being alive but to surge ahead, will have to make changes within it from time to time. There is a strong need for reforms – a shift in the strategy, structural reforms, and changes in the day-to-day work. In a way that is the most fundamental issue. But I want to stress that our resurrection will happen only through big collective efforts,” Gandhi said, adding, “And that collective attempt cannot be put off and will not be postponed. This shivir is an influential step in that journey.”
Gandhi also launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of keeping the country in a state of permanent polarisation, “brutalising” minorities, and “threatening” political opponents.
She urged around 450 delegates to deliberate with an open mind but send out a single message of a strong organisation, resolve and unity
UDAIPUR: The Congress is likely to adopt a “50 below 50” formula under which 50 per cent representation in the party organisation - from block to the CWC level - would be given to those under 50 years of age.
The party said it is also deliberating on an employment guarantee scheme for the youth and asserted that all measures under discussion at the party’s Chintan Shivir’ here could be implemented in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where it is in power.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress general secretary Ajay Maken said a proposal of at least 50 per cent representation for youth from bottom to Congress in the party organisation is being deliberated.
“There is a discussion ongoing over this and we will take this thing forward,” he said.
At another presser, some members of youth and empowerment committee, formed by
Sonia Gandhi to lead discussions at the Chintan Shivir which began here Friday, listed the problems being faced by youths in the country such as rising unemployment.
Ragini Nayak, a member
of the panel, said the committee wants that from block level to the Congress Working Committee, youth issues should feature prominently in deliberations.
“The Congress believes that ‘50 below 50’ formula should be adopted. In this Shivir also there are 50 per cent less then 50 years of age people. From the level of block to CWC, 50 percent representation should be for those below 50, the Congress spokesperson said. This is being considered by the Congress and it is possible that this would be implemented,” Nayak said. On a question about the right to employment for youth, another spokesperson, Alka Lamba, said this has come up in discussions.
“So it is being discussed how the Congress can compel the current government and how in 2024 when people are looking for a change the party will look at how it can implement the right to employment looking at legalities (of other schemes it has implemented), she said.