NEW DELHI: Congress is desperate to prove it’s alive. In order to remain relevant after successive routs in state elections, the party on Saturday decided it will take up the issue of rising prices and launch a nationwide stir.
Congress announced a three-phased campaign called Mehngai-mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (Mission to make India free of proce rise), under which it will organise rallies and marches across the country from March 31 to April 7. Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that in the first phase of the campaign, Congress workers and common people will protest outside their houses and at public places on March 31.
He said people will garland LPG cylinders, beat drums and ring bells to highlight the issue of inflation and seek to draw the attention of the “deaf” BJP government against the insurmountable increase in the prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel. “The Congress president, in consultation with the party general secretaries and state in-charges, has decided to champion the people’s cause in a three-phased programme — Mehngai-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan,” Surjewala said.
From April 2 to April 4, Congress, along with NGOs, religious and social organisations and resident welfare bodies, will organise dharnas and marches at the district level across the country, he added.
On April 7, the party will organise dharnas and marches at all state headquarters with the help of social and religious organisations, NGOs and common people, Surjewala said. “The people of India have been betrayed, duped and deceived by the (Narendra) Modi government. After keeping the prices of petrol, diesel, gas cylinders, piped natural gas and CNG unchanged for 137 days to secure votes of people, the last one week has been a nightmare for every household,” he added.
Surjewala pointed out that the Centre again hiked the petrol and diesel prices by 80 paise per litre on Saturday — the fourth hike in five days — totalling Rs 3.2 per litre.
The decision to launch the agitation was taken at a meeting of Congress general secretaries and state in-charges. The meeting also discussed the membership drive of the party and the current political situation in the country. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal chaired the meeting at the party headquarters. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Oomen Chandy, Mukul Wasnik, and Ajay Maken were among those present.
Dharnas and rallies at local, district and state levels
On March 31, Congress workers and common people will protest outside their houses. From April 2-4, party workers, NGOs, religious and social organisations will organise marches and dharnas at the district level. On April 7, marches will be conducted at all state headquarters