Bengaluru, Dec 20 (NationPress) The Congress party in Karnataka organized a protest named "Satyameva Jayate" at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday, denouncing what they labeled as fabricated Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi regarding the National Herald matter.

The demonstrators also criticized the decision to strip Mahatma Gandhi's name from the MNREGA scheme, calling it a slight to the Father of the Nation.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also serves as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), addressed the crowd.

Shivakumar claimed that factions aligned with Nathuram Godse's ideology were attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi's legacy, a figure who sacrificed his life for India's unity and freedom, and asserted that the Congress party would not permit Gandhi’s India to become Godse’s India.

"In Mahatma Gandhi's name, our government established the rural employment guarantee scheme. This scheme compensates for tasks like land leveling, constructing cattle sheds, and building homes in rural regions," he stated.

He further remarked, "Under Sonia Gandhi's guidance, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made this historic decision. Now, the BJP government is removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from this initiative. If they have the audacity, let them erase Gandhi's image from currency notes as well. Mahatma Gandhi’s name is eternal," Shivakumar asserted.

He challenged BJP leaders, declaring that they lost the ethical right to demonstrate in front of Gandhi statues and should abstain from doing so in the future.

"Removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from a scheme that aids the impoverished is a betrayal of the nation. When international dignitaries visit India, they first pay homage at Gandhi’s memorial. Stripping his name is akin to killing Gandhi once more,” he contended.

"A significant movement will commence in the state against this. We and the country require Gandhi. His name's removal is an affront. No past government has done this; only this administration has. The citizens will respond accordingly," he indicated.

Regarding the National Herald issue, Shivakumar stated, “The National Herald is a national treasure, while hatred is the BJP’s asset. Truth is everlasting; false allegations do not endure. We are rallying under the banner of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ today.”

“The Congress party embodies the strength of this nation, and the history of Congress is intertwined with the nation's narrative. Each time Congress has governed, it has crafted initiatives grounded in the Constitution to shape the country's destiny,” he added.

He reminisced about significant Congress-led initiatives, mentioning that Indira Gandhi nationalized banks and instituted land reforms, while Manmohan Singh enacted the Food Security Act. In Karnataka, under the guidance of veteran leader Motamma, the Congress-led government introduced the Stree Shakti program.

“No administration has succeeded in dissolving these programs, nor can they erase our five commitments. These are initiatives of the Congress government,” Shivakumar emphasized.

In response to criticism from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding invoking Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy, Shivakumar noted that the Congress countered by organizing the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Constitution convention.

Highlighting the sacrifices made by the Nehru-Gandhi family, Shivakumar remarked that Motilal Nehru was from one of the wealthiest families and contributed his wealth to the nation. “If anyone truly sacrificed wealth, power, and life for this nation, it is the Gandhi family,” he stated.

“Jawaharlal Nehru abandoned wealth, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi lost their lives, and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi relinquished power. We take pride in belonging to such a party. Thousands participated in the recent Delhi protest at their own expense. We are determined to continue this struggle and will not permit the BJP to distort our history,” he concluded, applauding the attendees.

AICC secretaries Abhishek Dutt, Mayur Jaikumar, and B.V. Srinivas, legislators Pradeep Eshwar and Hariprasad, State Mahila Congress president Soumya Reddy, State Youth Congress president Manjunath Gowda, along with senior leaders H.M. Revanna, Motamma, Rani Satish, B.L. Shankar, Chandrappa, and others, were also part of the protest.