Keep power-greedy leaders away from Cong: Despande

Addressing party workers on the occasion of the 125th Foundation Day celebrations of the Congress, he said the party should not allow power-greedy people to misuse it. “The Congress is not after power. It exists for the sake of poor and down trodden and to serve society,” he stated.

Stating that the Foundation Day will be celebrated through the year, he said programmes have been chalked out to spread awareness on the party’s contribution to the country’s freedom struggle.

Senior Congress leader K H Ranganath, who was felicitated on the occasion, said he identified himself with the party during the quit India movement in 1942. “Three mills –– Minarva mill, Binny mill and Raja mill, were responsible for the growth of the party in Bangalore. The party grew in strength due to workers in these mills.”

Union Minister of State for Labour Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the ruling BJP government has not been able to utilise funds released by the Centre for various schemes. The Centre has released nearly Rs 74,000 crore to the State. But only Rs 37,000 crore has been utilised. “This is because the State does not have money for matching grants. As a result, many of the Central schemes are not being implemented properly,” he stated.
Earlier, almost all KPCC leaders took out a rally from the historical Banappa Park to Congress Bhavan on Queen’s Road to mark the occasion.