Delivering her concluding remarks at the 83rd Plenary Session of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi reiterated most of what she had said against corruption. Leaders after leaders unleashed attacks on BJP and the Opposition.
The day also saw the foreign policy resolution reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. The north-eastern States are an integral part of the rich social and cultural heritage of India. Congress party reiterates the protection of the territorial integrity enshrined in the Constitution of India including Arunachal Pradesh, the political resolution said.
Earlier, PCC president of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki speaking at the Plenary drew the attention of the party to the oft-repeated claim over his State by China. “We are Indian and part of India,” he said, expressing his resentment at the Chinese claim.
PCC general secretary Abu Saleh Nizamudin was the lone Congressman from Assam to make a brief address at the Plenary. He spoke in support of economic resolution and praised UPA’s policy towards the North-east.
Meanwhile, the draft political resolution adopted by the Plenary Session, referring to the North-east, said the Indian National Congress is happy to note that almost all insurgent groups are now in talks with Government-appointed interlocutors. Settlements and peace are within our reach,” it said.
The Congress party assures the citizens of the North-east that it shall continue strive to expeditiously resolve all outstanding issues that concern their welfare.
The resolution further asked the State governments of the region to focus on good governance and development. The Indian National Congress, which is in power in most of the north-eastern States, pledges to continue its work to bring peace and development to the people of these States in accordance with the ambitious goals of ‘North-Eastern Region Vision – 2020’ released by the Prime Minister in July 2007, the resolution further stated.
Meanwhile, winding up the session, the Congress president said a number of States would go to polls in the next few months. There is simply no alternative to unity, hard work and discipline. And there is absolutely no place for complacency,” she said.
As reported yesterday, Gandhi had told a delegation of Assam PCC that also included Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, that the party and government needed to sort out their differences and work unitedly for the election. She was also briefed by AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam about corruption emerging as a major poll issue in the State.
He further apprised the Congress president that all ministers of Gogoi’s Council of Ministers have been asked to furnish a list of their properties.
Meanwhile, promising the delegates that the Congress would not be lenient with those involved in corruption cases, Sonia said that the party would show how it dealt with corruption by its action. “I had made specific suggestions in this regard and the Prime Minister has assured us that they will be taken forward, she said.’’
She announced that theAICC would set up a coordination committee to ensure regular interaction between the party and the government.
She also asked all State Congress units to appoint a monitoring committee to give feedback on the implementation of the government’s flagship programmes and submit an assessment report every quarter.