Mallikarjun Kharge, President of All India Congress Committee; Nana Patole, President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC); Mukul Wasnik and K C Venugopal, General Secretary of AICC; Ramesh Chennithala, Maharashtra In-charge of the party; P Chidambaram, former Union Home Minister; Sukhbir Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh; Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana; D K Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka; Members of Parliament, legislators, AICC office-bearers, executives, Congress Working Committee members, State Presidents, members of MPCC, shared the dais on this occasion. “OBCs constitute 50 per cent of the country’s population. Of the 90 IAS officers at the Centre, there are just three persons belonging to OBC. Dalits are 15 per cent and Adivasis are 12 per cent of the population. Still, neither OBCs, nor Dalits or Adivasis are given their proper share in BJP regime. Not only the Government agencies but in corporate sector also, one would not find balanced representation of all the communities. The claim of Modi Government that it is serving OBCs, Dalits, tribals is totally false,” alleged Gandhi.

 

Stating that the Congress party was fighting the forthcoming elections as ‘battle of ideologies’, he said, “In our country the basic struggle is of two ideologies. People feel it is a political battle or power struggle. But, the root of fight is between two ideologies.” “We want to empower the people. Unfortunately, the present Government is controlling and misusing every institution including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. We all are experiencing dictatorship. They are creating slaves all over like what the British and kings did with us. BJP and RSS both are taking us to the British era, which is a cause of concern,” alleged Gandhi. Congress always tried to provide for people as per their needs, he added. People participated in the freedom struggle along with Congress leaders. “Congress never claimed any credit. We say the Green Revolution was brought about by farmers, White Revolution came through Anand,” he observed.

 

Launching a scathing attack on Central Government, Kharge accused it of creating several issues including farmers’ problems, unemployment, rich and poor divide etc. “We need to save our country. For this, you must choose I.N.D.I.A. over NDA. Because of fear of increasing unity among I.N.D.I.A. constituents, BJP is trying to divide this alliance,” he alleged. Kharge said that Congress believed in the ideology of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule who worked for equality. Congress has taken a cue from these leaders and developed approach for the welfare of people. “We have to bring back those glorious days for which our alliance needs popular support,” he appealed. In his speech, Nana Patole said that the ‘Maharally’ aimed at ousting BJP from power. Nagpur has always given support to Congress whenever it was in crisis. Now also, people of Vidarbha and Nagpur should extend their support to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he appealed. Vikas Thakre, President of Nagpur City Congress; Adv Abhijeet Wanjari, MLC and General Secretary, also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, Kharge hoisted the national flag at the ground in presence of Rahul Gandhi, Vijay Wadettiwar, Vikas Thakre, Balasaheb Thorat, and other senior leaders. Mukul Wasnik conducted the proceedings while Balasaheb Thorat proposed a vote of thanks.