Centenary Celebration: Venugopal Announces Major Festivities in Belagavi, Karnataka
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Bengaluru, Dec 25 (NationPress) Discussing the arrangements for the centenary celebration marking the moment when Mahatma Gandhi assumed the role of Congress President during the 1924 session in Belagavi, which was pivotal in igniting the Independence movement, K.C. Venugopal, the National General Secretary (Organisation) of the party and a Congress MP, announced that the historic party is preparing for grand festivities on December 26 and 27.
In a statement on social media platform X, Venugopal expressed, "We are all set for the two-day mega celebrations in Belagavi as we honor the centennial of Mahatma Gandhi's leadership of the Congress."
"Following his teachings, we will organize a Nava Satyagraha to reaffirm our dedication to his values, the Constitution, and the vision laid out by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Additionally, we will host a rally titled 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' alongside the extended Congress Working Committee meeting in the coming days," he noted.
"As the principal opposition to the current fascist regime, we have a responsibility to continuously remind the citizens of India of our fight on the right side of history against those who threaten the core values of Indian democracy. We anticipate an inspiring two days ahead," he stated.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Belagavi session, the State Electricity Department has beautifully illuminated the city.
Congress leaders have encouraged the public, particularly those in the Kittur Karnataka region, to come and witness this spectacular decoration.
Electricity generation in Shivanasamudra began in Karnataka in 1904, and during the 1924 Belagavi session, the city was uniquely adorned with lights.
The Congress party possesses photographs of those decorations, inspired by the architectural style of the Virupaksha temple. Similar decorations have been recreated for this occasion.
Earlier, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar mentioned that the upcoming public gathering on December 27 will be titled "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Constitution."
Shivakumar added, "We have declared this area as Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. On December 26, the Congress Working Committee meeting will take place near Gandhi Well, also known as Pampa Sarovar, where Mahatma Gandhi presided over the event in 1924. It is a matter of pride that Karnataka's Mallikarjun Kharge currently holds the same position. The session back then was organized on an 80-acre ground by Karnataka leaders Gangadhar Deshpande and the late Jawahar Lal Nehru, who served as Congress General Secretaries. We are now conducting the working committee meeting at the same site."
"Our leaders back then steered the freedom struggle, guiding the nation toward independence and becoming revered figures. To honor this legacy, we have planned these events. This is not solely a Congress event; it is an occasion for every citizen. The working committee meeting will focus on the nation's direction and strategies for strengthening it during these challenging times," the Deputy Chief Minister explained.
"We are inviting members of the party's working committee, current and former Chief Ministers from various states, legislative party leaders, State Congress Committee presidents, MPs, MLAs, party workers from across the state, and the general public to join us," he added.
"We have documented records of the 1924 session, which will be published as a book tomorrow. On December 26 at 10 a.m., a statue of Gandhi will be unveiled at Veer Soudha, followed by a photo exhibition. At 10:45 a.m., a Khadi fair will be inaugurated. At 11:15 a.m., I, along with the Chief Minister, will unveil the Gangadhar Deshpande memorial and inaugurate a photo exhibition showcasing his contributions. The working committee meeting will commence at 3 p.m., followed by a dinner hosted by the Congress President at 7 p.m.," Shivakumar stated.
On December 27, at 10:30 a.m., the statue of Gandhi at Suvarna Soudha will be unveiled by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister will oversee the program, which will also be attended by Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader and Chairman Basavaraj Horatti.
