Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday that the party has come to Gujarat to draw “inspiration and strength” from the state and its history. Speaking at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad, Kharge emphasized that Congress will carry forward the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a key freedom fighter and leader from Gujarat.
Kharge said Gujarat has played a major role in Congress’s 140-year history, giving it great strength. This is the first time in over 60 years that the party is holding such an important session in Gujarat.
He addressed the idea that there was conflict between Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying it was false. “They were like two sides of the same coin,” Kharge said. “Many records show that they shared great respect and worked closely together.”
The CWC meeting was held at the Sardar Patel Museum in Ahmedabad to honor Patel. Kharge said, “Sardar Patel lives in our hearts and thoughts. We pay our heartfelt tribute to him and are committed to keeping his legacy alive.”
The Congress also passed a special resolution on Patel, marking his 150th birth anniversary and 75th death anniversary. Kharge accused the BJP and RSS of trying to take credit for Patel’s legacy, even though they had no role in the freedom struggle.
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He criticized the BJP and RSS for taking over institutions connected to Mahatma Gandhi, like Gujarat Vidyapeeth, and handing them over to people who oppose Gandhi’s ideas. “They can steal Gandhiji’s glasses and stick, but not his ideals,” he said.
Kharge praised leaders from Gujarat such as Gandhi, Patel, and Dadabhai Naoroji, saying they helped make Congress known across the world.
He also spoke about how Patel supported Nehru, quoting a 1937 speech where Patel praised Nehru’s hard work and leadership. “Nehru respected Patel deeply and often sought his advice,” Kharge said.
Kharge said that Patel’s values were very different from the RSS’s views, and it’s “laughable” that they now try to claim Patel’s legacy. He also mentioned how B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, once said it couldn’t have been created without Congress’s help.
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Ending his speech, Kharge reminded Congress leaders to focus on strengthening the party and urged them to share original ideas during the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session being held the next day.
