Political Resolution adopted at the 85th Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress on February 25-26, 2023 at Raipur, Chattisgarh

State of the nation today

1. The Indian National Congress has been the torch bearer of the Indian freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, and Congressmen and Congresswomen have been the progenitors of Indian nationalism. It is the Congress that liberated the country from centuries of suppression and exploitation at the hands of the British. It has been a unifying force in a very diverse country, with its secular and inclusive policies.

2. India’s first Prime Minister, the great visionary, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with his closest colleague and unifier of modern India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, laid firm foundations for a parliamentary democracy and put India on the path of development and modernisation. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s role in framing the Constitution shaped the democratic ethos for one India centred around the values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

3. During 75 years of independence, India has never witnessed such a disastrous situation as seen during the past eight and half years of fear, hate and intimidation. The BJP and its government has sought to demolish the national ethos built upon by those who led the freedom struggle and nurtured by successive governments.

4. Let us remember that the forces which collaborated with British rule and opposed Mahatma Gandhi were responsible for his killing. The inheritors of these forces hold power today, and are doing everything they can to erase his legacy.

5. Congress resolves to liberate the nation from its present agony and darkness, heal the wounds created by these divisive forces, and reinstate stability and peace again. The 4000 km long Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was a first significant step in this direction.

Renew democracy and freedom

6. Today, the BJP government has distorted all three arms of government and the fourth estate of the media to protect their interests over the people’s interests. Every institution has been subverted, undermined and threatened. Democracy is on the verge of being expunged from India.

7. Subversion of Executive: Central agencies like ED, NIA, CBI and IT are being grossly abused to intimidate and subjugate political opponents. This is manifest vendetta politics of the worst kind.

8. Undermining of Legislature: Free discussions and debate in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies have been curtailed. Expunging the truth and suppressing the voices of the Opposition is becoming the order of the day. This is a blatant subversion of Article 105 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech as a right for Members of Parliament. The declining time and quality of debate in Parliament shows how the BJP is undermining parliamentary democracy.

9. Threat to Judiciary:The judiciary is constantly threatened by direct and indirect measures which create apprehensions in their mind. Unfortunately, the Law Minister himself is leading the blatant attack on the judiciary. Congress promises that the independence and integrity of the judiciary will be maintained and protected at all costs.

10. Freedom of press:The Prime Minister and the government are extending their grip on electronic, social, digital and print media, both within India and abroad. Media freedom is under attack. Those who fearlessly speak their mind - journalists, activists, writers, and whistleblowers - are being persecuted and silenced, especially in BJP governments. Congress condemns the persecution of the media. Congress firmly believes that the media must be free and self-regulated and resolves to strengthen freedom of press through legislation and Constitutional amendments as needed.

To renew India’s proud democratic heritage, we will take the following steps:

11. Freedom of Expression: Indian constitution grants its citizens the right to freedom of speech. Laws are increasingly being misused by the present regime to harass or arrest critics, including politicians, journalists, academics, students, agitators, and non-governmental organization (NGO) activists. Congress will initiate a comprehensive review of all laws, rules and regulations to repeal those that are outdated, unjust, or unreasonably restrict the freedoms of the people.

12. Anti-defection: The Congress pioneered the Constitutional Amendment on anti-defection, and took several measures during the UPA-2 government to strengthen it. Since 2014, the BJP has engineered mass defections, purchased legislators and thus toppled democratically elected government after government. The Congress will amend the Constitution to eliminate such practices.

13. Police Reforms: The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission recommended measures to modernise police forces and protect vulnerable sections of the society like SCs/STs, OBC, women and minorities. Congress will provide utmost importance to these recommendations. In addition, Congress will ensure that State police forces reserve 33 percent of all vacancies in direct recruitment and promotion for women constables and officers.

14. Electoral Reforms:The present system of Electoral Bonds is fatally flawed and fully corrupt. Congress will set up a National Election Fund to which all may contribute. During elections, funds will be allocated to political parties using a transparent and fair criteria laid down by law.

15. More than 14 recognised political parties, several eminent activists, and computer scientists have raised concerns on the efficacy of EVMs to the Election Commission, but have not received any response so far. When voters lose faith in the integrity of the electoral process, especially EVMs, our democracy hollows from within. The Congress promises to restore the faith of every voter in the integrity of the electoral process. The Congress will build the widest possible consensus with all like-minded political parties to take up the issue with ECI, and if they do not respond, then go to Court.

16. Data Protection:The BJP government routinely conducts excessive surveillance including blanket monitoring of communication, disproportionately without judicial oversight. The draft personal data protection law disregards the Srikrishna Commission report. The Congress believes that a robust personal data protection law is immediately needed to end government surveillance of citizens.

Combat hate politics and violence

17. In the last eight and a half years under the BJP Government, the politics of hate has assumed alarming proportions and religious polarisation has reached its peak. Hate crimes and atrocities have increased manifold. Vigilante right wing groups incite violence on various trivial issues. These groups operate with impunity and have started acting like police, spreading anarchy and fear. This fear in the minds of minorities is the aim of the BJP/RSS regime. During the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it was clear that the majority of Indians yearn for love, peace and harmony.

18. The Congress believes in our civilisational principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means “The World is One Family”. Minorities form about a fifth of India’s population. Neglecting, marginalising, and alienating them is inhuman, and hits at the unity and integrity of India. The culture of hatred, nurtured and propagated by BJP, RSS and their acolytes violates the tenets of all religions. We need to create a sense of security among each and every Indian, regardless of their region, religion, caste, class or gender.

19. Crimes against weaker sections of society have also increased. Atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) have increased by 1.2 per cent in 2021, according to the NCRB. Violence against dalit and adivasi women has also risen. Cases of rape against SC women, including, shockingly, minors, account for 7.64 per cent and ST women account for 15 per cent out of the total cases reported.

20. Congress will pass a new law to prevent and punish hate crimes.

Fight corruption through transparency and accountability

21. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, then Congress President, declared an open war against corruption in the Plenary Session of AICC in December, 2010 through a resolution with four main points:

i. Institute a fast-track system for all corruption cases by public servants including politicians ii. Full transparency in public contracts and procurements, and protection for whistleblowers iii. Reduction of discretionary powers, especially in land allocations iv. An open, transparent, competitive and sustainable system of exploiting natural resources.

22. The Congress honoured its assurances to the people and passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act to set up an independent anti-corruption body at the Centre and state level. However, the BJP government has diluted the Act and rendered the entire body defunct.

23. UPA enacted revolutionary measures like the Right to Information Act. It was meant to provide transparency in public governance. The present BJP government has sabotaged the Act to deny justice to the people and throttle transparency in governance.

24. Congress will re-introduce and pass the Grievance Redressal Bill, 2011 to provide for mandatory, time-bound grievance redressal.

Rules under the Whistle-Blowers Protection Act, 2014 will be made to operationalise the Act. Congress promises to ensure that the law is not weakened or diluted.

Usher in the next decade of social and economic Equality and Justice

25. The Congress pioneered rights-based legislation in India, providing welfare and protection to citizens while also empowering them. Every child was given a right to free and compulsory education, through the RTE Act and a Constitutional amendment. The MNREGA guaranteed work for any rural Indian. The Food Security Act guaranteed rations and strengthened the public distribution systems as well as meals for children in schools and anganwadis. Rights of women and children were secured through the Domestic Violence Act, equal rights of inheritance for Hindu Women, and establishing by law the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Unorganised sector workers were provided social security by law in 2008.

26. Healthcare: Comprehensive healthcare is the right of every citizen child, adult and senior citizen. Congress will guarantee to every citizen the right to healthcare services, including free diagnostics, out-patient care, medicines and hospitalisation through a Right to Healthcare Act. The revolutionary Chiranjeevi Yojana implemented by the Congress Government of Rajasthan will be replicated at the national level.

27. Covid-19 saw the tragic death of lakhs of people due to shortage of oxygen and ICU beds. It starkly showed the BJP government’s failure to provide basic infrastructure, and serious lack of medical staff, drugs, and preparedness. This negligence is inhuman, and the weakness in our public health system must be fixed immediately. Congress resolves to double total government expenditure on healthcare to 3% of GDP by the year 2024-25.

28. Differently-abled people: Congress is firmly committed to upholding the rights, dignity and self-respect of the nearly 4 crore differently-abled people in India. Congress will introduce a ‘Saksham Bharat’ program to guarantee differently-abled people a fair deal with opportunities for them to be employed and productive, contributing to the welfare of their families and to the progress of our nation. In addition, the Constitution will be amended to ensure appropriate social security and protection.

29. Senior Citizens: Congress acknowledges that about 9 percent of the population of India is over the age of 60 years and this proportion will increase. Congress promises to update current policies on senior citizens, taking into account advances in medical science and technology. A welfare scheme called ‘Jeevan Gaurav Yojana’ will be designed specifically for senior citizens.

30. Anti-Discrimination:Congress promises to pass an Anti-Discrimination Law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, gender or language in the supply of goods and services that are made available to the public in general such as housing, hostels, hotels, clubs, etc.

31. Science, Technology and Innovation:Development of scientific temper and inculcating a spirit of inquiry are critical for India’s progress. The Congress has always believed that investment in science, technology and innovation is an investment in the future of the country. This is why we focused on education, raising literacy rate to today’s 92.4% from 14% in 1947. The Congress condemns the BJP’s attacks on scientific temper and education by appointing known communal faces in Indian Council for Historical Research and scientific and educational institutions.

Strengthen internal and external security

32. Several events in the past few years have demonstrated that India is lagging behind in its security agenda on all frontiers, including military modernisation, trade, and aid. The lack of a cogent National Security Strategy for India has exposed the lack of coherence in the BJP government on multiple fronts. The Congress remains committed to improving its National Security Strategy presented in 2019 and implementing it.

33. India-China Border Issue:The Congress has always believed in peace through both strength and negotiation, while dealing with all acts of aggression firmly. The UPA era reflected this approach through both high-level engagements and strengthening military and strategic capabilities. Our thinking can also be seen in our approach to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which plays a key role in building infrastructure and maintaining peace on the border. The Congress established the ITBP in 1962, gave it a statutory basis in 1992, and assigned the entire China border to it in 2004. In contrast, the lethargy and neglect of the BJP government has increased India’s vulnerability. The ‘Line of Actual Control’ (LAC) between India and China continues to remain tense, with China claiming Indian territory in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Even as a lakh troops or more are stationed in eastern Ladakh, Beijing is accelerating its rail networks and heightening the threat to our borders.

34. Cyber threats: India has seen rapid growth in internet connectivity and widespread digitisation. However, crucial data and critical systems are increasingly vulnerable to cyber risks and attacks. Data leakage, unsecured networks, phishing attacks, ransomware, spyware and weak encryption can cause monetary losses and compromise individual privacy. Congress resolves to address the acute shortage of cyber specialists in Central and state police forces.

Strengthen federalism and decentralisation

35. A basic feature of the Constitution of India is the principle of federalism. Congress acknowledges that, over the last eight and a half years, this principle has been eroded to the detriment of the States.

36. Misuse of governors: The appointments of Governors, their decisions and roles have turned the office of Governor into a mockery. Governors enjoy great protection for their actions in the name of their Constitutional positions. The Congress demands that Governors who misuse their positions must be held publicly accountable for their actions.

37. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh:The people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have always stood by the country and its sovereignty. Congress reaffirms that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is part of India. Owing to the drastic steps taken in August 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated summarily. During the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, people of all the three regions expressed their deep disappointment and disillusionment with the state of affairs. Congress will strive to restore complete statehood for the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir, and bring Ladakh and its people under the protection of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

38. North Eastern States: Congress affirms that the North Eastern States are a unique and valued part of India that bring into our Union many diverse and rich cultures, languages, traditions and biodiversity. The tremendous diversity is under threat because the BJP wants uniformity while the Congress stresses on unity through celebrating diversity. Congress reiterates its commitment to defending and protecting the interests of the North Eastern states and its people, including restoring special category status, and to ensure sustainable development of the region.

39. Hilly and Special Category States: Hilly states face unique developmental challenges, which require additional support. The abolition of “Special category” status which provided this support has been detrimental to the interests of the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Congress will restore special category status to the North Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

40. The Congress also stands committed to extend special category status to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

41. Local Self Government: Congress was the proponent and author of the Constitution 73rd and 74th Amendments. Congress believes that Panchayati Raj and urban self-governance is the most effective form of democracy, empowering people to make decisions to solve their own problems. Unfortunately, the BJP government believes in centralizing authority, and has been slowly depriving panchayats and nagarpalikas of funds and functions. The repeated unconstitutional delays in holding elections to local bodies in BJP states, despite court interventions, strike at the root of local self-government. Congress promises to conduct elections to local bodies in a timely fashion and strengthen the law to eliminate delays. We will consider measures to provide adequate funding and greater autonomy to local bodies.

Protect the environment

42. It is a bitter truth that India’s environment has now deteriorated. The 2022 Global Environmental Performance Index placed India at the lowest out of 180 countries. The BJP government is responsible for this dismal state of affairs over the last nine years. At the same time, climate change increases, bringing more natural disasters. Congress in 1972 was the first Indian political party to acknowledge the consequences of climate change. We recognize that the poor, especially those at the margins, suffer losses to their jal, jangal and zameenmost due to environmental degradation, natural disasters and climate change. Congress promises an action-based agenda that will place India at the forefront of the battle against climate change and environment protection.

43. Water Management:Congress promises to create a permanent Commission to resolve Inter-State Water Disputes on the model of South Africa.

44. Congress will ensure that any judgement of a tribunal or the Supreme Court on water disputes will be notified by the government within 3 months; amending the Constitution if necessary. Renew mass contact after the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

45. The Congress thanks the people of India for their overwhelming support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and salutes Rahul Gandhi for his dynamism and determination. The Yatra and its message of unity, harmony and equality has generated great hope in the country. It is now the task of every Congressman and Congresswoman to take this message forward.

46. The Congress resolves to continue mass contact programs to follow up to the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. The ‘Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyaan’ aims to reach every household. Similar efforts will continue on war footing to highlight the BJP government’s misrule, anti-democratic and anti-people policies, to quell the atmosphere of hatred, and bring tangible long-lasting solutions to the people’s real challenges.

Conclusion - the way forward for the Congress

“I do not ask you for any kingdom nor heaven or for any liberation. I only ask for one thing to liberate the agony of the people.”

Mahatma Gandhi’s last prayer at 4 am on January 30, 1948

47. It is quite shocking that BJP leaders have reached the pinnacle of arrogance by saying that the BJP has no competitors in 2024. This is a big challenge, not just to the Congress and other parties, but to the democratic ethos of India. Congress welcomes this challenge!

48. The 2023 Assembly elections to 9 states and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are crucial for India’s future. The choice before our people is crystal clear. The Congress must redefine political discourse by recapturing the centre space in the present polarised polity.

49. Congress should be absolutely clear about its ideology, with which our forefathers fought for freedom, laid down their lives, and sustained democracy. The idea of India has been clearly laid down by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that Congress stands for secularism, socialism and federalism.

50. The Congress party will prepare a Vision Document for 2024, following a largest-ever mass contact programme, which will encompass issues of unemployment, eradication of poverty, inflation, women empowerment, job creation, national security. Specially, the Congress must reverse the current regressive path of growth without improving the lives of the poorest. Our growth mantra must have a human touch, creating livelihoods and employment opportunities.

51. Congress will infuse new blood in leadership roles without creating new fault lines and cementing its ideological moorings. Congress will create a clear-cut role model and will catapult the party back to power both at the state and centre.

52. Unity of secular and socialist forces will be the hallmark of the future of the Congress party. Congress should go all out to identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular forces. We should include secular regional forces who agree with our ideology. There is an urgent need for a united opposition to take on the NDA on common ideological grounds. Emergence of any third force will provide advantage to the BJP/NDA.

53. Wherever the Congress is the main opposition party, we should be a responsible and responsive opposition. While campaigning, focus should be on the respective local issues.

54. The well-crafted and thoroughly deliberated Udaipur Nav Sankalp will be taken up on a mission mode. AICC will implement all the resolutions, especially those of the organisation in letter and spirit within an immediate time frame.

55. Congressmen and Congresswomen should not think “who we are, but what the situation warrants today”.

56. Farm labourers, artisans, youth and women shall become the sheet anchors of the Congress. The Congress party will again emerge as a mass-based and cadre-based vibrant party with total dedication to the cause of rebuilding a free, prosperous, equal, just and tolerant Bharat.

57. The last day prayer of Mahatma Gandhi should always echo in every Congress cadre, nay every Indian.

58. Congressmen and women holding office must not allow any doubt about their probity and integrity. Simplicity, restraint and austerity must be our chosen way. We must fight the prevailing malpractices and perversion of character in politics, by avoiding Mahatma Gandhi’s seven sins:

a. Wealth Without Work b. Pleasure Without Conscience c. Knowledge Without Character d. Commerce (Business) Without Morality (Ethics) e. Science Without Humanity f. Religion Without Sacrifice g. Politics Without Principle Let us have faith in ourselves. Every Indian heart and soul will respond to our call. Haath se Haathjodo, Aao Bharat Jodo!

I. SUBGROUP - POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Chairman - Dr. M. Veerappa Moily Convenor - Shri Ashok Chavan Members: 1. Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury 2. Kumari Selja 3. Shri Charanjit Singh Channi 4. Shri Mullapally Ramachandran 5. Shri Rajeev Shukla 6. Shri B. Manickam Tagore 7. Shri Deepak Babaria 8. Shri N. Uttam Kumar Reddy 9. Shri Pritam Singh 10. Shri Debabrata Saikia 11. Shri Kuldeep Singh Rathore 12. Shri Gaurav Gogoi 13. Shri Saptagiri S. Ulaka 14. Shri Ghulam Ahmad Mir 15. Shri Ganesh Godiyal 16. Shri Subodh Kant Sahai 17. Shri Arif Naseem Khan 18. Smt. Yashomati Thakur 19. Shri Lalji Desai 20. Dr. Ragini Naik