KC Venugopal Highlights National Challenges at Congress' Belagavi Gathering

Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 26 (NationPress) Congress General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal stated on Thursday that the nation is grappling with numerous problems, which will be deliberated upon during the party's CWC meeting taking place here as part of a two-day special event celebrating the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the Congress’ historic Belgaum (present-day Belagavi) session as party president in 1924.

The centenary festivities commenced in Belagavi city. The year 1924 marked the only occasion when Mahatma Gandhi served as the president of the Indian National Congress, and he never held the position again after his term concluded. Following his appointment as president, he initiated the struggle for independence against British rule.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Veer Soudha in Tilakwadi, Belagavi.

During the event, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar paid floral respects to Gandhi's statue, while CM Siddaramaiah spun the charkha. The gathering also saw the presence of former CM and ex-Union Minister Veerappa Moily, senior leader R.V. Deshpande, Ministers M.B. Patil, H.C. Mahadevappa, K.H. Muniyappa, Laxmi Hebbalkar, among others.

K.C. Venugopal addressed the media, stating, "Mahatma Gandhi assumed the presidency of the Indian National Congress on this very day in 1924. Today marks the 100th anniversary of his presidency. It is a moment of pride for Congress members nationwide to honor and celebrate this occasion... Currently, our nation faces numerous issues. The working committee will deliberate on these matters and propose solutions. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will engage in discussions regarding the present political climate and the principles enshrined in the Constitution. They will undoubtedly present actionable ideas."

"The Constitution has come under attack from the BJP-led government at the national level. The BJP and Union Minister for Home Amit Shah have targeted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. These topics will be on the agenda for the working committee. We have been protesting across the country regarding this issue since last week. This meeting will yield definitive strategies for moving forward," Venugopal added.

Sources indicated that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would arrive in Belagavi city from New Delhi in the afternoon and will be accommodated at the Circuit House.

The Gangadhar Rao Deshpande Memorial Hall will be inaugurated later today. At 3 p.m., the All India Congress Committee's working committee meeting is scheduled at Veer Soudha in Tilakwadi. Subsequently, another AICC working committee meeting will be led by party President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Reflecting on the event, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar noted, "It was precisely at 3 p.m. on December 26, 1924, that Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Belagavi Congress session. In line with this historical significance, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) session will commence at 3 p.m. today."

"I had the privilege of organizing this program. I advocated that the centenary celebration should not occur elsewhere; it had to take place here, and we chose to hold it in this location," he concluded.