Congressmen to pledge on November 14 to uphold Nehruvian principles

NEW DELHI: Congress will hold a three-day nationwide rallying of party activists to pay "a befitting tribute" to the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 125th birth anniversary. The main opposition's move follows the ideological and political war unleashed by the Narendra Modi government challenging Congress' legacy in India's Independence movement and Nehruvian principles.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi will lead functionaries, supporters and workers across the nation to take a special pledge on November 14, vowing to uphold "Nehruvian principles of inclusiveness" and "lead the nation's resistance" against the "increasing attempts by politics of divisiveness and hatred to challenge the Nehruvian principles".

The AICC will also host a two-day international conference in Delhi to observe the occasion. The event has been tentatively scheduled for November 17-19.

PM Narendra Modi is heading a government-coordinated panel for officially observing Nehru's 125th anniversary on November 14. Sonia and Rahul have been not been included in the panel. Nehru's anniversary functions comes after the NDA regime's skirmishes with Congress over the birth anniversaries of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.

Sources said Sheila Dikshit in her capacity as the chairperson of a specially created AICC panel to coordinate the party's observation of Nehru's 125th birth anniversary, has written a three-page letter to all AICC general secretaries, respective presidents of all Congress Pradesh, district, mandal and block committees spelling two specific actions plans. The party offices across the country will be illuminated from November 13-15 and special programmes with maximum participation of party functionaries and workers will be held to highlight Nehru's many-fold contributions.

On November 14, Congress committees will organise public functions where a pledge will be taken to "uphold the legacy of Nehru" and "lead the resistance against the effort to unmake it'.

Party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will lead the pledge-taking ceremony at a special public function in Delhi along with top leaders and party workers.