85th Congress Plenary Session

Political Resolution - Draft

State of the nation today

1. Indian National Congress has been the torch bearer of the Indian freedom struggle
under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, and Congressmen and Congresswomen
have been the progenitors of Indian nationalism. It is the Congress that liberated the
country from centuries of suppression and exploitation at the hands of the British. It
has been a unifying force in a very diverse country, with its secular and inclusive
policies.

2. India’s first Prime Minister, the great visionary, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with
his closest colleague and unifier of modern India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, laid firm
foundations for a parliamentary democracy and put India on the path of
development and modernisation. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s role in framing the
Constitution shaped the democratic ethos for one India centred around the values of
justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

3. During 75 years of independence, India has never witnessed such a disastrous

situation as seen during the past eight and half years—of fear, hate and intimidation.
The BJP and its government has sought to demolish the national ethos built upon by
those who led the freedom struggle and nurtured by successive governments.

4. Let us remember that the forces which collaborated with British rule and opposed
Mahatma Gandhi were responsible for his killing. The inheritors of these forces hold
power today, and are doing everything they can to erase his legacy.

5. Congress resolves to liberate the nation from its present agony and
darkness, heal the wounds created by these divisive forces, and reinstate
stability and peace again. The 4000 km long Bharat Jodo Yatra from
Kanyakumari to Kashmir was a first significant step in this direction.

Renew democracy and freedom

6. Today, the BJP government has distorted all three arms of government
and the fourth estate of the media to protect their interests over the
people’s interests. Every institution has been subverted, undermined and
threatened. Democracy is on the verge of being expunged from India.

7. Subversion of Executive: Central agencies like ED, NIA, CBI and IT are being grossly
abused to intimidate and subjugate political opponents. This is manifest vendetta
politics of the worst kind.

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8. Undermining of Legislature: Free discussions and debate in Parliament and
Legislative Assemblies have been curtailed. Expunging the truth and suppressing the
voices of the Opposition is becoming the order of the day. This is a blatant subversion
of Article 105 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech as a right for
Members of Parliament. The declining time and quality of debate in Parliament
shows how the BJP is undermining parliamentary democracy.

9. Threat to Judiciary: The judiciary is constantly threatened by direct and indirect

measures which create apprehensions in their mind. Unfortunately, the Law Minister
himself is leading the blatant attack on the judiciary. Congress promises that the
independence and integrity of the judiciary will be maintained and
protected at all costs.

10. Freedom of press: The Prime Minister and the government are extending their grip
on electronic, social, digital and print media, both within India and abroad. Media
freedom is under attack. Those who fearlessly speak their mind – journalists,
activists, writers, and whistleblowers - are being persecuted and silenced, especially
in BJP governments. Congress condemns the persecution of the media.
Congress firmly believes that the media must be free and self-regulated
and resolves to strengthen freedom of press through legislation and
Constitutional amendments as needed.

To renew India’s proud democratic heritage, we will take the following

steps:
11. Freedom of Expression: Indian constitution grants its citizens the right to freedom of
speech. Laws are increasingly being misused by the present regime to harass or
arrest critics, including politicians, journalists, academics, students, agitators, and
nongovernmental organization (NGO) activists. Congress will initiate a
comprehensive review of all laws, rules and regulations to repeal those
that are outdated, unjust, or unreasonably restrict the freedoms of the
people.

12.Anti-defection: The Congress pioneered the Constitutional Amendment on

anti-defection, and took several measures during the UPA-2 government to
strengthen it. Since 2014, the BJP has engineered mass defections, purchased
legislators and thus toppled democratically elected government after government.
The Congress will amend the Constitution to eliminate such practices.

13. Police Reforms: The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission recommended

measures to modernise police forces and protect vulnerable sections of the society
like SCs/STs, OBC, women and minorities. Congress will provide utmost
importance to these recommendations. In addition, Congress will ensure
that State police forces reserve 33 percent of all vacancies in direct
recruitment and promotion for women constables and officers.

14. Electoral Reforms: The present system of Electoral Bonds is fatally flawed and fully
corrupt. Congress will set up a National Election Fund to which all may
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 contribute. During elections, funds will be allocated to political parties
using a transparent and fair criteria laid down by law.

15. More than 14 recognised political parties, several eminent activists, and computer
scientists have raised concerns on the efficacy of EVMs to the Election Commission,
but have not received any response so far. When voters lose faith in the integrity of
the electoral process, especially EVMs, our democracy hollows from within. The
Congress promises to restore the faith of every voter in the integrity of
the electoral process. The Congress will build the widest possible
consensus with all like-minded political parties to take up the issue with
ECI, and if they do not respond, then go to Court.

16. Data Protection: The BJP government routinely conducts excessive surveillance
including blanket monitoring of communication, disproportionately without judicial
oversight. The draft personal data protection law disregards the Srikrishna
Commission report. The Congress believes that a robust personal data
protection law is immediately needed to end government surveillance of
citizens. 

Combat hate politics and violence

17. In the last eight and a half years under the BJP Government, the politics of hate has
assumed alarming proportions and religious polarisation has reached its peak. Hate
crimes and atrocities have increased manifold. Vigilante right wing groups incite
violence on various trivial issues. These groups operate with impunity and have
started acting like police, spreading anarchy and fear. This fear in the minds of
minorities is the aim of the BJP/RSS regime. During the course of the Bharat Jodo
Yatra, it was clear that the majority of Indians yearn for love, peace and harmony.

18. The Congress believes in our civilisational principle of ‘Vasudhaiva

Kutumbakam’ which means "The World Is One Family". Minorities form about a
fifth of India’s population. Neglecting, marginalising, and alienating them is
inhuman, and hits at the unity and integrity of India. The culture of hatred, nurtured
and propagated by BJP, RSS and their acolytes violates the tenets of all religions. We
need to create a sense of security among each and every Indian, regardless of their
region, religion, caste, class or gender.

19. Crimes against weaker sections of society have also increased. Atrocities against
Scheduled Castes (SCs) have increased by 1.2 per cent in 2021, according to the
NCRB. Violence against dalit and adivasi women has also risen. Cases of rape against
SC women, including, shockingly, minors, account for 7.64 per cent and ST women
account for 15 per cent out of the total cases reported. 

20. Congress will pass a new law to prevent and punish hate crimes.

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Fight corruption through transparency and accountability

21. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, then Congress President, declared an open war against
corruption in the Plenary Session of AICC in December, 2010 through a resolution
with four main points:
i. Institute a fast-track system for all corruption cases by public servants
including politicians
ii. Full transparency in public contracts and procurements, and protection for
whistleblowers
iii. Reduction of discretionary powers, especially in land allocations
iv. An open, transparent, competitive and sustainable system of exploiting
natural resources.

22. The Congress honoured its assurances to the people and passed the Lokpal and
Lokayukta Act to set up an independent anti-corruption body at the Centre and state
level. However, the BJP government has diluted the Act and rendered the entire body
defunct.

23. UPA enacted revolutionary measures like the Right to Information Act. It was meant
to provide transparency in public governance. The present BJP government has
sabotaged the Act to deny justice to the people and throttle transparency in
governance.

24. Congress will re-introduce and pass the Grievance Redressal Bill, 2011 to
provide for mandatory, time-bound grievance redressal. Rules under the
Whistle-Blowers Protection Act, 2014 will be made to operationalise the
Act. Congress promises to ensure that the law is not weakened or diluted.

Usher in the next decade of Social and Economic Equality and Justice

25. The Congress pioneered rights-based legislation in India, providing welfare and
protection to citizens while also empowering them. Every child was given a right to
free and compulsory education, through the RTE Act and a Constitutional
amendment. The MNREGA guaranteed work for any rural Indian. The Food Security
Act guaranteed rations and strengthened the public distribution systems as well as
meals for children in schools and anganwadis. Rights of women and children were
secured through the Domestic Violence Act, equal rights of inheritance for Hindu
Women, and establishing by law the National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights. Unorganised sector workers were provided social security by law in 2008.

26. Healthcare: Comprehensive healthcare is the right of every citizen child, adult and
senior citizen. Congress will guarantee to every citizen the right to
healthcare services, including free diagnostics, out-patient care,
medicines and hospitalisation through a Right to Healthcare Act. The
revolutionary Chiranjeevi Yojana implemented by the Congress Government of
Rajasthan will be replicated at the national level.

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27. Covid-19 saw the tragic death of lakhs of people due to shortage of oxygen and ICU
beds. It starkly showed the BJP government’s failure to provide basic infrastructure,
and serious lack of medical staff, drugs, and preparedness. This negligence is
inhuman, and the weakness in our public health system must be fixed immediately.
Congress resolves to double total government expenditure on healthcare
to 3% of GDP by the year 2024-25.

28.Differently-abled people: Congress is firmly committed to upholding the rights,

dignity and self-respect of the nearly 4 crore differently-abled people in India.
Congress will introduce a “Saksham Bharat” program to guarantee
differently-abled people a fair deal with opportunities for them to be
employed and productive, contributing to the welfare of their families
and to the progress of our nation. In addition, the Constitution will be
amended to ensure appropriate social security and protection.

29. Senior Citizens: Congress acknowledges that about 9 percent of the population of
India is over the age of 60 years and this proportion will increase. Congress
promises to update current policies on senior citizens, taking into
account advances in medical science and technology. A welfare scheme
called “Jeevan Gaurav Yojana'' will be designed specifically for senior
citizens.

30.Anti-Discrimination: Congress promises to pass an Anti-Discrimination

Law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, gender or
language in the supply of goods and services that are made available to
the public in general such as housing, hostels, hotels, clubs, etc.

31. Science, Technology and Innovation: Development of scientific temper and

inculcating a spirit of inquiry are critical for India’s progress. The Congress has
always believed that investment in science, technology and innovation is an
investment in the future of the country. This is why we focused on education, raising
literacy rate to today’s 92.4% from 14% in 1947. The Congress condemns the
BJP’s attacks on scientific temper and education by appointing known
communal faces in Indian Council for Historical Research and scientific
and educational institutions.

Strengthen internal and external security

32. Several events in the past few years have demonstrated that India is lagging behind
in its security agenda on all frontiers, including military modernisation, trade, and
aid. The lack of a cogent National Security Strategy for India has exposed the lack of
coherence in the BJP government on multiple fronts. The Congress remains
committed to improving its National Security Strategy presented in 2019
and implementing it.

33. India-China Border Issue: The Congress has always believed in peace through both
strength and negotiation, while dealing with all acts of aggression firmly. The UPA

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 era reflected this approach—through both high-level engagements and strengthening
military and strategic capabilities. Our thinking can also be seen in our approach to
the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which plays a key role in building infrastructure and
maintaining peace on the border. The Congress established the ITBP in 1962, gave it
a statutory basis in 1992, and assigned the entire China border to it in 2004. In
contrast, the lethargy and neglect of the BJP government has increased India’s
vulnerability. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China continues
to remain tense, with China claiming Indian territory in eastern Ladakh and
Arunachal Pradesh. Even as a lakh troops or more are stationed in eastern Ladakh,
Beijing is accelerating its rail networks and heightening the threat to our borders.

34. Cyber threats: India has seen rapid growth in internet connectivity and widespread
digitisation. However, crucial data and critical systems are increasingly vulnerable to
cyber risks and attacks. Data leakage, unsecured networks, phishing attacks,
ransomware, spyware and weak encryption can cause monetary losses and
compromise individual privacy. Congress resolves to address the acute
shortage of cyber specialists in Central and state police forces.

Strengthen federalism and decentralisation

35. A basic feature of the Constitution of India is the principle of federalism. Congress
acknowledges that, over the last eight and a half years, this principle has
been eroded to the detriment of the States.

36. Misuse of governors: The appointments of Governors, their decisions and roles have
turned the office of Governor into a mockery. Governors enjoy great protection for
their actions in the name of their Constitutional positions. The Congress
demands that Governors who misuse their positions must be held
publicly accountable for their actions.

37. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: The people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have
always stood by the country and its sovereignty. Congress reaffirms that the whole of
Jammu & Kashmir is part of India. Owing to the drastic steps taken in August 2019,
the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated summarily. During
the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, people of all the three regions expressed their
deep disappointment and disillusionment with the state of affairs. Congress will
strive to restore complete statehood for the Union Territory of Jammu &
Kashmir, and bring Ladakh and its people under the protection of the
Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

38.North Eastern States: Congress affirms that the North Eastern States are a unique
and valued part of India that bring into our Union many diverse and rich cultures,
languages, traditions and biodiversity. The tremendous diversity is under threat
because the BJP wants uniformity while the Congress stresses on unity through
celebrating diversity. Congress reiterates its commitment to defending and
protecting the interests of the North Eastern states and its people,
including restoring special category status, and to ensure sustainable
development of the region.
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39. Hilly and Special Category States: Hilly states face unique developmental challenges,
which require additional support. The abolition of “Special category” status which
provided this support has been detrimental to the interests of the Northeast, Jammu
and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Congress will restore
special category status to the North Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

40.The Congress also stands committed to extend special category status to

the state of Andhra Pradesh.

41. Local Self Government: Congress was the proponent and author of the Constitution
73rd and 74th Amendments. Congress believes that Panchayati Raj and urban
self-governance is the most effective form of democracy, empowering people to make
decisions to solve their own problems. Unfortunately, the BJP government believes
in centralizing authority, and has been slowly depriving panchayats and nagar
palikas of funds and functions. The repeated unconstitutional delays in holding
elections to local bodies in BJP states, despite court interventions, strike at the root
of local self-government. Congress promises to conduct elections to local
bodies in a timely fashion and strengthen the law to eliminate delays. We
will consider measures to provide adequate funding and greater
autonomy to local bodies.

Protect the environment

42. It is a bitter truth that India’s environment has now deteriorated. The 2022 Global
Environmental Performance Index placed India at the lowest out of 180 countries.
The BJP government is responsible for this dismal state of affairs over the last nine
years. At the same time, climate change increases, bringing more natural disasters.
Congress in 1972 was the first Indian political party to acknowledge the
consequences of climate change. We recognize that the poor, especially those at the
margins, suffer losses to their jal, jangal and zameen most due to environmental
degradation, natural disasters and climate change. Congress promises an
action-based agenda that will place India at the forefront of the battle
against climate change and environment protection.

43. Water Management: Congress promises to create a permanent Commission

to resolve Inter-State Water Disputes on the model of South Africa.

44. Congress will ensure that any judgement of a tribunal or the Supreme
Court on water disputes will be notified by the government within 3
months; amending the Constitution if necessary.

Renew mass contact after Bharat Jodo Yatra

45. The Congress thanks the people of India for their overwhelming support to the
Bharat Jodo Yatra, and salutes Rahul Gandhi for his dynamism and determination.
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 The Yatra and its message of unity, harmony and equality has generated great hope
in the country. It is now the task of every Congressman and Congresswoman to take
this message forward.

46.The Congress resolves to continue mass contact programs to follow up to

the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The 'Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyaan' aims to reach every
household. Similar efforts will continue on war footing to highlight the BJP
government’s misrule, anti-democratic and anti-people policies, to quell the
atmosphere of hatred, and bring tangible long-lasting solutions to the people’s real
challenges.

Conclusion - the way forward for the Congress

“I do not ask you for any kingdom nor heaven or for any liberation.
I only ask for one thing – to liberate the agony of the people.”
Mahatma Gandhi’s last prayer at 4 am on 30th October 1948

47. It is quite shocking that BJP leaders have reached the pinnacle of arrogance by
saying that the BJP has no competitors in 2024. This is a big challenge, not just to
the Congress and other parties, but to the democratic ethos of India. Congress
welcomes this challenge!

48.The 2023 Assembly elections to 9 states and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are crucial
for India’s future. The choice before our people is crystal clear. The Congress must
redefine political discourse by recapturing the centre space in the present polarised
polity.

49.Congress should be absolutely clear about its ideology, with which our forefathers
fought for freedom, laid down their lives, and sustained democracy. The idea of India
has been clearly laid down by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that Congress stands for
secularism, socialism and federalism.

50.The Congress party will prepare a Vision Document for 2024, following a largest-ever
mass contact programme, which will encompass issues of unemployment,
eradication of poverty, inflation, women empowerment, job creation, national
security. Specially, the Congress must reverse the current regressive path of growth
without improving the lives of the poorest. Our growth mantra must have a human
touch, creating livelihoods and employment opportunities.

51. Congress will infuse new blood in leadership roles without creating new fault lines
and cementing its ideological moorings. Congress will create a clear-cut role model
and will catapult the party back to power both at the state and centre.

52. Unity of secular and socialist forces will be the hallmark of the future of the Congress
party. Congress should go all out to identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular
forces. We should include secular regional forces who agree with our ideology. There
is an urgent need for a united opposition to take on the NDA on common ideological
grounds. Emergence of any third force will provide advantage to the BJP/NDA.
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53. Wherever the Congress is the main opposition party, we should be a responsible and
responsive opposition. While campaigning, focus should be on the respective local
issues.

54. The well-crafted and thoroughly deliberated Udaipur Nav Sankalp will be taken up
on a mission mode. AICC will implement all the resolutions, especially those of the
organisation in letter and spirit within an immediate time frame.

55. Congressmen and Congresswomen should not think “who we are, but what the
situation warrants today”.

56. Farm labourers, artisans, youth and women shall become the sheet anchors of the
Congress. The Congress party will again emerge as a mass-based and cadre-based
vibrant party with total dedication to the cause of rebuilding a holistic Bharat, a
Samrudh Bharat.

57. The last day prayer of Mahatma Gandhi should always echo in every Congress cadre,
nay every Indian.

58. Congressmen and women holding office must not allow any doubt about their
probity and integrity. Simplicity, restraint and austerity must be our chosen way. We
must fight the prevailing malpractices and perversion of character in politics, by
avoiding Mahatma Gandhi’s seven sins:

a. Wealth Without Work

b. Pleasure Without Conscience
c. Knowledge Without Character
d. Commerce (Business) Without Morality (Ethics)
e. Science Without Humanity
f. Religion Without Sacrifice
g. Politics Without Principle
i.

Let us have faith in ourselves. Every Indian heart and soul will respond
to our call. Haath se Haath jodo, Bharat Jodo!

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