'Gandhi Bharat' to give new direction to the country: Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar

Belagavi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar said that Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the Congress session held here in 1924 during the freedom movement had given new direction for the same, and its centenary to be celebrated as 'Gandhi Bharat' on December 26 and 27, 2024 will give new direction for the country under the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. Then it was Gandhi and today it is Kharge, he said.

Shivakumar told reporters at the airport here on Monday that Congress' history is the nations history. In 1924, the then general secretaries of Congress Jawaharlal Nehru and Gangadharrao Deshpande had organised the party's session here presided over by Mahatma Gandhi which boosted India's freedom movement.

"During the assembly elections, we launched the 'Prajadhvani' campaign by washing the streets after taking water from the Congress well and succeeded in winning 136 seats. The centenary celebration of the 1924 Congress session will give new direction and strength to the nation. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will decide on the agenda and take decisions," he said.

Shivakumar said that the event to inaugurate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the premises of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha on December 26, at 11 am will be a government event in which leaders and representatives of all political parties will be invited. Family members of Gangadharrao Deshpande and freedom fighters residing in Belagavi will also be invited.

The extended meeting of the CWC will be attended by all members and invitees which also includes chief ministers, legislature party leaders, MPs and state Congress presidents, he said.

AICC General Secretary Incharge of State Randeep Surjewala said, CWC will take decisions in the interests of the nation and state. Members will give their opinions and suggestions during the CWC meet and its outcome will be made known to all.

"Mahatma Gandhi had given direction to the freedom movement following which a new wave for attaining independence spread across the country. The society was united by keeping all differences of caste, creed and religion aside under the leadership of Gandhi. An extended CWC meeting will be conducted in occassion of the session's centenary year, where Congress, under the leadership of Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, will rally to walk on the path of the Mahatma and fight against communal forces," Shivakumar said.

"Dr B R Ambedkar is being insulted by the BJP all across the country, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is doing the same in the Parliament. Congress' CWC meeting and rally will give the message that the country will run as per the Constitution," he added.