Belagavi convention part of fight against ‘fascist’ BJP: Surjewala

Belagavi: The ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ convention being organised by the Congress in Belagavi on January 21 would buoy those engaged in fighting the “fascist” politics of the BJP, said AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday.

The event is being organised as part of the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Belgaum Congress Session, which Mahatma Gandhi presided over. Surjewala said that AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among other prominent Congress leaders would be in attendance at the convention.

Drawing parallels between the historic 1924 session and the event to commemorate it, Surjewala said, “The session that Mahatma Gandhi presided over a century ago was part of the country’s fight for independence from the British. The centenary celebrations will be an event when the country raises its voice to fight discrimination, harassment of the oppressed classes, and the attack on Constitution.”

The BJP’s assault on the Constitution has been accompanied by policies that have led to the gulf between the poor and rich widening, said the AICC general secretary. “We need to follow the ideology of Gandhiji, Dr B R Ambedkar to fight the fascist BJP. Soon after the convention in Belagavi, the Congress will hold another event in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, the birthplace of Ambedkar on January 27,” added Surjewala.  

‘Notice not issued’

Dismissing reports of the Congress having issued notice to Public Works and Belagavi District In-Charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Surjewala said, “These are rumours being spread by the BJP.”

The AICC general secretary also rejected suggestions of deliberations being held on replacing Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as the president of KPCC. “I have come to Belagavi to oversee the preparations for the convention,” he added.