Highlights of the Speech of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President & LoP, Rajya Sabha, addressing the Foundation Day function of the Indian National Congress at Indira Bhawan, AICC Hdqrs, December 28, 2025

Our leaders taught us that we must work continuously to empower the nation and its people. In keeping with our glorious tradition, we must respond to our opponents firmly but with civility and dignity.

Addressing leaders and workers on the occasion of the Congress Party’s foundation day, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Congress members across the country on the foundation day of the Congress Party. I also wish you all a Happy New Year in advance.

The Congress was founded in Mumbai on December 28, 1885. For 62 years thereafter, millions of Congress members struggled against the British, made sacrifices, and endured immense hardships and suffering in jails, before the country finally gained independence. Today, I pay tribute to all the founders of the Congress and the freedom fighters. Bowing to the heroes who established the Constitution and a strong democracy, I want to say that the Congress will continue to make every possible effort for the India of their dreams.”

Friends, it has been the good fortune of the Congress Party that all the prominent figures of the country have been associated with it. Under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, farmers, laborers, women, and people from marginalized communities were united under the Congress banner and fought for their rights. Even before independence, the framework of fundamental rights that the Congress formulated in 1931 became a part of our Constitution. But today, both the Constitution and Democracy are in danger. Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s highest values such as unity, integrity, secularism, and social justice. Friends, the year 2025 marks the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi becoming the President of the Congress Party, and fortunately, he was elected President in Belgaum, in the state of Karnataka. It is also the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, and the year 2026 marks the 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji, the centenary of Sarojini Naidu becoming the Congress President, and the centenary of the song ‘Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara’ (May our flag fly high). This song was first sung at the Kanpur Congress session in December 1925.

Friends, around the time of India’s independence in 1947, many countries around the world gained independence. Some countries failed, while others fell under dictatorships. Only India is where democracy has survived... Thanks to the great leaders of the Congress Party, India became the world’s largest democracy. Because of the vision of our heroes, India stands tall in the world in the field of agriculture, space, nuclear technology, and many other strategic sectors. During the long period of Congress rule, historical achievements transformed the country. From the Green Revolution and the White Revolution to the communication and information revolution, the automobile revolution, and the era of economic liberalization... whether it’s education, IT services, or other fields, India has made its mark on the world. These are all major achievements of the Congress Party, and that is why the country is in its current position today.

I would like to remind everyone that during Sonia Gandhi’s tenure as President, the scope of protecting citizens’ rights was further expanded under the UPA government. During Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Prime Ministership, laws were enacted based on a rights-based approach... historic laws such as the Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act, Food Security Act, MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act, and Land Acquisition Act were passed, which were praised worldwide. The Congress Party’s ideology has always been to take society forward... During the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi prepared the Congress for issues such as social reform, opposition to untouchability, economic self-reliance, equal rights, and opposition to communalism... He connected the Congress with constructive work.The Congress Party has always had a broad vision, but in the last 11 years of the Modi government’s tenure, the institutions built by the Congress are being weakened. National resources, including water, forests, and land, are under threat today. RSS and BJP leaders have not even accepted the country’s Constitution, the tricolour flag, the Ashoka Chakra, or Vande Mataram. They opposed the laws enacted for the progress of society... They are engaged in crushing the rights of the people, which were achieved through sacrifice and struggle. Those whose ancestors had no role in the freedom movement are now working to snatch away the rights of the people. We must resolutely oppose their attempts at every level.

Friends, over the past 140 years, the Congress Party has witnessed many ups and downs. We have inherited the legacy of great leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Rajendra Prasad. Our leaders taught us that we must work continuously to empower the nation and its people. In keeping with our glorious tradition, we must respond to our opponents firmly but with civility and dignity. Our leaders taught us to walk the path of truth, and by following that path, we will achieve victory. Gandhi Ji even said that truth prevails even when it lacks public support. I’ll say it again... truth prevails even when it lacks public support. But we have both - truth and public support. Recently, at the Ramlila Maidan rally, and on several other occasions such as the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, the people of the country have given us immense public support. Friends, over the past 11 years, the BJP government has amended several laws to benefit a few capitalists... MGNREGA is being dismantled, the looting of water, forests, and land continues, the government is manipulating data, and to hide the truth, they haven’t even conducted a census yet.

Friends, as you all know, in 2025, this building became the permanent office of the Congress Party, named after the great leader Indira Gandhi. This is a result of the tireless efforts of our CPP Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and in the coming times, it is going to become the focal point for the protection of the Constitution and Democracy. 100 years ago, after assuming the responsibility of the Congress Presidency, Sarojini Naidu said that in the struggle for freedom, fear is the only unforgivable betrayal, and despair is the only unforgivable sin. Today, we are living in the shadow of freedom, but her words still hold relevance, and today we are fighting to uphold the Constitution and Democracy, and to protect the rights of the people through schemes like MGNREGA.

I would like to reiterate my appeal to all Congress workers across the country to unite and reach out to every citizen to save MGNREGA. For this, we must come together with the same spirit as the Dandi March and the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. We will compel the government to reinstate MGNREGA for the benefit of the poor and vulnerable.

Finally, on this Foundation Day, I want to make one thing absolutely clear. To those who say the Congress Party is finished, I want to tell them – we may have less power, but our spine is still strong. We have not compromised – not on the Constitution, not on secularism, and not on the rights of the poor. We may not be in power, but we will not compromise our principles. The Congress Party has never asked for votes in the name of religion, the Congress Party has never spread hatred in the name of temples and mosques... Congress unites, BJP divides.The Congress Party kept religion as a matter of faith, but some people turned religion into politics. Today, the BJP has power, but they lack truth. That’s why sometimes statistics are concealed, sometimes the census is stopped, and sometimes there are talks of changing the Constitution. Those who are giving speeches about history today, their ancestors were running away from history... Congress is an ideology, and an ideology never dies.

Friends, that’s why I say – this is not a fight for elections. This is a fight for the soul of India, and the Congress Party is fighting this battle because if Congress doesn’t fight, who will save the Constitution? Who will save this democracy? With these words, I conclude my speech. Jai Hind! Jai Congress! Jai Constitution!

Thank you!