Centennial Celebration of the Historic Belagavi Session: Congress Leaders Venugopal and Surjewala in Karnataka for Preparations

Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 17 (NationPress) Lok Sabha MP and Congress General Secretary, K.C. Venugopal, along with AICC General Secretary and Karnataka Incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala, made their way to Karnataka’s Belagavi on Tuesday. Their purpose was to finalize arrangements and visit significant historical sites for the celebration of the centenary of the Belagavi convention.

In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi took the role of AICC President, stepping into a leadership position in the Independence movement during the Belagavi Session.

During a press interaction in Belagavi, Venugopal remarked, “On December 26 and 27, we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency. The Belagavi conference stands as a monumental event in the narrative of our Indian political landscape. An extended working committee meeting is set to take place here on December 26 afternoon, followed by a grand rally. We will outline the program details after visiting the sites.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, addressed the media near the Belagavi Circuit House and Peernawadi Gandhi Bhavan.

“The historical significance of Mahatma Gandhi assuming the presidency of the Congress during the Belagavi Session is a remarkable blessing for Karnataka,” he stated.

“At the time when Mahatma Gandhi became the Congress President, only Gangadhar Deshpande and Jawaharlal Nehru served as the Principal Secretaries. Deshpande invited Gandhi ji to hold the AICC session in Belagavi,” Shivakumar noted.

“A well was constructed to supply drinking water for those who attended that session. Now, a century later, Karnataka's own Mallikarjun Kharge serves as the AICC President. Then it was Mahatma Gandhi, and now it is Kharge who holds this esteemed position,” emphasized Shivakumar.

In the meantime, numerous Congress leaders, including the late Nijalingappa, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and former AICC leader Sonia Gandhi, as well as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, have all held the position of Congress president.

“Initially, there was a proposal to conduct this year’s session at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. However, I suggested Belagavi to the AICC, and they were amenable,” Shivakumar stated.

“As part of the ‘Gandhi Bharat’ initiative on October 2, we marched from Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru to the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha on behalf of the state government. Subsequently, we marched from Gandhi Circle to Bharat Jodo Bhavan in Bengaluru on behalf of the party.

“Now, continuing this momentum, the Congress Working Committee meeting is scheduled to occur in Belagavi on December 26,” maintained Shivakumar.

This event is expected to be attended by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, all Congress Working Committee members, Chief Ministers, MLAs, and MPs.

“The following day, a large public rally is set to take place. Party leaders, including panchayat members, committee and corporation members, as well as nominated representatives, will also join the rally,” announced Shivakumar.

Shivakumar further revealed that a statue of Gandhi would be inaugurated near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, and all MLAs and Council leaders from various parties would be invited to this significant event. The program will be spearheaded by the Speaker and Chairpersons.

“AICC General Secretaries will visit and assess the event venues, after which additional information regarding other programs will be shared. ‘Opportunities do not come looking for us; we have to seek them out,’ as Indira Gandhi once stated. Sonia Gandhi has authored a book encompassing Indira Gandhi's wisdom, which I have translated into Kannada, and it will be launched during the Gandhi Bharat program,” Shivakumar stated.

A meeting will be convened with all leaders from the Belagavi region at the Congress office to deliberate on preparations for the event, he concluded.