Letter to Congress Workers

Dear Friends:

My greeting to all of you on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of our Independence. This was a joyous moment for all of us because despite innumerable hurdles, handicaps and problems, we have been able to preserve our democracy, our secular and socialistic values. The founding fathers of our freedom movement taught us to view politics as an instrument to serve the people, to fulfill their hopes and aspirations. We view policies from the perspective of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji taught us that the objective of politics and political activity is social transformation. It is a medium to provide the underprivileged their legitimate rights. Serving the poor – Daridra Narayan Seva – is our motto and it is our prime concern. That is why, I have personally instructed our Congress chief ministers in the eleven states where we are in office to accord the highest priority to the upliftment of the weaker sections of our society.

The nation is in the midst of a grave economic crisis. Unemployment is increasing and industry is stagnating. Farmers are in great distress. Food grain stocks mount just as reports of starvation deaths hit the headlines. Scams of various kinds are being unearthed daily. Foreign policy is confused and the NDA has no policy to bring peace to Jammu and Kashmir. The secular ethos of our education is sought to be destroyed and attempts are being made to erode the independence and professionalism of all academic institutions by saffronizing them. The nation has seen through the NDA. We must keep us our campaign of exposing the NDA and also of presenting to the people a positive agenda for good governance, economic growth and social harmony. In this context, the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Jammu & Kashmir pose a formidable challenge to all of us. I am confident that all my Congress colleagues will rise to the occasion and bring victory to the party. A victory for the Congress is a victory for the progress and development, and the improvement of the weaker sections. A victory for the Congress is a victory for preservation, protection and promotion of secularism in India and for rescuing Indian culture from those who distort its essence and legacy.

Congress Sandesh completed three years on this Independence Day. When I launched it on 15th August 1998, the main purpose was to create a communication link and medium in the party organization at all levels. I am happy to say that it has been able to carve a special place for itself among the lakhs and lakhs of Congress workers and among the public at large. I wish Congress Sandesh all the very best.