From Sevagram, Cong calls for 'second freedom struggle'

Says need to oust those pursuing politics of "hatred, divisiveness and fear" and following the "ideology of Godse"

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Tuesday gave a "clarion call" for a second freedom struggle to oust those pursuing politics the of lies, deceit, fraud and subterfuge.

The CWC, the top decision-making body of the Congress, met at the Sevagram Ashram complex in Wardha district to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The meeting paid rich tributes to Gandhi, as well as former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had coined the slogan 'jai jawan, jai kisan'.

Addressing the CWC meeting, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "Today there are two ideologies. One is the ideology of Gandhiji and the other the ideology of Godse. Those who follow Godse cannot understand Gandhism".

The meeting was held at Mahadev Bhavan in Sevagram, nearly 10 km away from Wardha town.

The top Congress brass attended the meeting, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

The CWC, in a resolution, noted that a new freedom struggle is the need of the hour — a massive movement to combat the forces of divisiveness and prejudice to confront the Modi government.

"It is the politics of threat and intimidation, the politics of polarisation and divisiveness, the politics of crushing debate and dissent, the politics of imposing an artificial uniformity in a nation of extreme diversity, the politics of hate and vendetta, the politics of subverting all constitutional values, principles and practices, the politics of lies, hate, deceit and subterfuge," the resolution states.

It also pointed out that one may borrow Mahatma's spectacles for publicity campaigns, but implementing his vision will remain unfulfilled unless his principles are followed.

Briefing mediapersons, AICC spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the CWC resolved to expose the "hollowness and doublespeak" of the ideologies and organisations who have never believed in, let alone followed, the Gandhian path of truth, tolerance, harmony and non-violence.

The CWC underlined that it is only the Congress that truly embodies the ethos of a 'Bharat' that is fundamentally inclusive, liberal, secular and an assimilation of India's plurality and diversities.

"It is only the Congress that is deeply committed to the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity laid down in the Preamble of the Constitution," the resolution said.

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