Congress Centenary Celebration: Party Prepares for Grand Festivities in Belagavi, According to Venugopal

Bengaluru, Dec 25 (NationPress) In a statement regarding the preparations for the centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi assuming the Congress Presidency during the Belagavi session in 1924, which marked the beginning of the Indian independence movement, the National General Secretary (Organisation) of the party and Congress MP, K.C. Venugopal, announced that the historic party is ready for extravagant festivities set for December 26 and 27.

Through his social media platform X, Venugopal expressed, "We are fully prepared for the two-day grand celebrations in Belagavi, commemorating the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's presidency of the Congress party."

"In alignment with his legacy, we will conduct a Nava Satyagraha to reaffirm our dedication to his ideals and the Constitution, as well as the vision provided by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Furthermore, a rally titled 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' will be held alongside the extended Congress Working Committee meeting in the days to follow," he added.

"As the main opposition to this fascist regime, we bear the responsibility of continually reminding the citizens of India about our fight on the right side of history, standing against those who aim to undermine the fundamental principles of Indian democracy. We anticipate a meaningful two days ahead," he stated.

To honor the centenary of the Belagavi session, the State Electricity Department has graciously illuminated the city.

Congress leaders have encouraged residents of the state, particularly in the Kittur Karnataka region, to admire this splendid decoration.

The generation of electricity began in Shivanasamudra, Karnataka, in 1904, and during the 1924 Belagavi session, the city was extravagantly lit.

The Congress possesses photographs capturing those decorations, inspired by the architectural style of the Virupaksha temple.

This year, similar decorations have been arranged once again.

Previously, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar mentioned that the public gathering on December 27 for the centenary celebration is titled 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Constitution'.

Shivakumar added, "This area has been designated as Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. On December 26, the Congress Working Committee meeting will take place near Gandhi Well, or Pampa Sarovar. In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Belagavi Congress session. It is indeed a matter of pride that Karnataka's Mallikarjun Kharge holds the same position today. During that session, Karnataka leaders Gangadhar Deshpande and the late former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru, who were then Congress General Secretaries, organized the session on an 80-acre ground. Now we are conducting the working committee meeting at the same location."

"Our leaders back then spearheaded the freedom struggle, guiding the nation towards independence, and have become iconic figures. To commemorate this legacy, we have organized these programs. This is not merely a Congress event but a celebration for everyone. The working committee meeting will address the country's trajectory and how to fortify it during these challenging times," the Deputy Chief Minister remarked.

"We have invited 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 populace to join us," he concluded.

"We have compiled records from the 1924 session and will publish them as a book tomorrow. On December 26 at 10 a.m., a statue of Gandhi will be unveiled at Veer Soudha, accompanied 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 detailed.

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 the 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," he added.