Cong to take out kalash yatra in July

Raipur, June 17, 2013

Congress has decided to continue yatras and campaigns till November 2013. The latest will be kalash yatra that will start in July. The objective is to keep hammering public mind that only Congress deserves to come to power. 

“Kalash yatra will be a non-political tour across the state. Through yatra, we rather aim to give tribute to our leaders who lost their lives in May 25 incident and make people acquainted about them,” said acting PCC Charandas Mahant while talking to scribes after holding a meeting of PCC office-bearers at Congress Bhawan on Monday.

The yatra will reach all 90 assembly constituencies. It will begin from four different districts, i.e. home places of deceased leaders Vidya Charan Shukla, Nandkumar Patel, Mahendra Karma and Uday Mudliyar. 

“A vehicle will carry images of all those who died on May 25-naxal attack. We have pledged in the meeting to give priority to fulfil last wishes of our deceased leaders,” Mahant said.

The party also decided to organise a tribute programme for its leaders at divisional-level in Jagdalpur on June 25. Mahant said the programme would be attended by all the PCC office-bearers, senior leaders and local party workers. He said the party would also invite its national leaders to attend the programme.

He further said considering rains the date to restart parivartan yatra would be fixed later. “I will discuss about it with the DCC heads first on Tuesday meeting (June 18) and then we will announce the date,” he said. Sources said the party is likely to restart parivartan yatra after rainy season so that more number of its national leaders could participate in it. 

On host of statements being given by Congress leaders on May 25-incident he said he had already made it evident that the party would not tolerate any time of indiscipline and unsolicited talks in public. “Only the authorised people are allowed to put party’s stand before media,” he said.

Asked why Konta MLA and Ajit Jogi’s staunch supporter Kawasi Lakhma was not invited in the recent meeting convened by party vice president Rahul Gandhi when other Bastar Congress leaders were given a call, Mahant said sine it was the meeting of tribal region’s DCC heads, Lakhma was not invited. “Soon Lakhma along with other partymen, who got inured on May 25 and are now recovering, would be called by Gandhi,” he added.

On growing factionalism in party, he claimed that there was no polarisation but only difference of opinions. “These things do not affect our party and we unitedly put effort in polls,” he said. 

Asked whether he was indicating towards some party insider by terming May 25-naxal attack as political conspiracy, he said nobody in Congress was of violent attitude. “We demanded probe into the incident because we had doubt on ruling BJP as we thought it had conspired against our top-rung leaders. Now when the matter is being investigated by NIA and judicial commission, it is not wise to comment on it,” he added.

He, however, added that it was unusual incident as Maoists’ do not act as they did on May 25.

On reported SMS being received by one of the Congmen from Dinesh Patel pertaining to major disclosure against ruling party leader, Mahant said the party was still looking into the matter. 

On Pushp Steel case he said party’s programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel was pursuing it and the Congress want probe into iron-blocks given to the firm.

He further informed that the party was reviewing all the issues raised by Nandkumar Patel against the government would follow his suit in future.

When indicated that his party had expressed displeasure over role of Governor Shekhar Dutt he said the Governor’s post was constitutional and Dutt was doing perfect job.

Asked whether he would resign from the post of union minister of state to concentrate on PCC affairs, Mahant said he had not received any directive regarding it.

Mahant holds two meetings 

Raipur, June 17, 2013

Acting PCC president Charandas Mahant convened two significant meetings of party office-bearers at Congress Bhawan on Monday. The first meeting was attended by party’s vice presidents, general secretaries and heads of frontal organisations – Pradesh Mahila Congress, Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India.

In the meeting, the party decided to intensify its activities across the state and continue with its door-to-door campaign (ghar ghar Congress, har ghar Congress), parivartan yatra and take out kalash yatra. The party also decided to focus on constitution of booth-level committees. Besides, the party will prominently raise farmers’-related issues.

Mahant’s second meeting was attended by PCC secretaries and heads of party’s cells and departments at 3 pm. 

Mahant will hold two more meetings on Tuesday. The first meeting will be held at 12 pm and attended by DCC heads. The second meeting will begin at 2 pm and attended by party’s block heads.