AICC SESSION

ALL INDIA CONGRESS COMMITTEE
TALKATORA STADIUM,
NEW DELHI, 24 MAY, 2002

POLITICAL RESOLUTION

1. The AICC meets today at a critical stage of our nation's history. At the Plenary Session of the Party on 17-18 March, 2001, we had said : "For it was the Congress which brought the nation to freedom in the first half of the 20^th Century and built the edifice of India's modern nationhood through the next half-century. In doing so, the Congress reflected the core ethical values of our millennial civilization : satya; ahimsa; unity in diversity; secularism, that is, the synthesis and celebration of all the great spiritual and cultural tributaries to the evolution of our composite heritage; the worship of Daridranarayana as taught us by Gandhiji; independence, self-reliance; and looking at the world with "clear and friendly eyes", as pledged by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at the very dawn of our freedom."

2. At this point of time, the country faces a real threat to secularism and democracy at the hands of communal reactionary forces who have captured the apparatus of the State at the Centre. The founding fathers of our Republic have bequeathed to us a Constitution which is unique and which provides for the parameters of governance for a varied and hetrogenous civilization. No country had ever been called upon to create a Constitution for a civilization of such dimensions. Each culture or faith, and each way of life has been preserved. The flourishing of our composite culture has been assured. The fundamental principle underlying this Constitution is the principle of secularism. It is no ordinary principle, but the Constitutional incarnation of the genius of India which has lighted the way to the celebration of diversity as the Indian way of life over trackless millennia. Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan rightly spoke of the prophetic role of secularism in India's governance. Indian secularism is neither irreligious nor anti-religious. It draws strength from India's diversity and the tensile strength drawn from the best traditions of all the faiths that co-exist in the country, including the Hindus, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Christians, the Sikhs, the Jains and a host of other faiths, which govern the minds, hearts and souls of people.

3. The principles of secularism define the very basis from which India's Constitution was created. They are :

a. The principle of multi-culturalism,

b. The principle of religious, cultural and linguistic freedom,

c. The principle of equality and non-discrimination,

d. The principle of non-identity of the State with any particular faith,

e. The principle of the strict separation of religion from politics,

f. The principle of protection of the cultural and educational rights of religious and linguistic minorities,

g. The principle of affirmative action for disadvantaged sections of society,

h. The principle of total support for all faiths and communities,

i. The principle of social reform and welfare,

j. The principle of opposition to communalism and intolerance in any community whatsoever.

4. This vision of Indian secularism cannot be permitted to be undermined by political greed, communal hate and violence or intolerance. It is tragic, however, that at this point of time, these immutable principles are under attack by the various strategies adopted by the BJP-RSS-VHP combine. It is this combine which controls the layers of power at the national level. The fact is that the BJP is only a front; it is the RSS that controls the levers of power in the Government of India. The people of this great country have, time and again, shown that they cannot and will not subscribe to any principle or philosophy which divides the nation on grounds of religion or denigrates any particular faith or religion. This is the fundamental fact that has prevented the BJP from securing a majority in Parliament and which will forever deny it such a majority. For the majority community does not believe the BJP holds any brief for them; and the minorities do not trust them at all. The BJP remains the representative of a fringe, which can never become the mainstream voice of the nation. The fundamentalists of any faith are always on the fringe of any community and must be opposed from both within and outside that community.

5. The democratic exercise during the elections to the State Assemblies in February 2002 brought about a very revealing state of political results. In the elections in UP, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur, the BJP lost its eminence and trailed behind the Congress and other political parties. This defeat was not only the defeat of the political agenda of the BJP, but also of its divisive politics, which it played to the hilt. It was not surprising, therefore, that the stalwarts of the BJP started harping on returning to their basics. Therefore, an attempt was made to revive the Ram Janmabhoomi issue, but that also could not fructify because of the categorical stand of the Supreme Court in the matter. Even at the height of the Gujarat carnage, the municipal and panchayats elections in Gujarat witnessed the decline of the BJP. The BJP was also routed in the Delhi Municipal Council elections, as also in Shimla, notwithstanding a BJP government in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

6. The BJP has, therefore, been obliged to devise a methodology to counter this existential reality. It has formed the NDA government in coalition with parties which are ready to look the other way and presented to the country a `National Agenda of Governance', which, to secure the support of its opportunistic partners, proclaims that all the contentious issues espoused by the BJP have been put on the backburner but not abandoned. This enables the alliance to survive even as it enables the BJP government to exploit these powers for self-aggrandizement.

7. Jammu & Kashmir

The situation in this crucial state has gone from bad to worse because the BJP-led government at the Centre lacks any strategy _ political or security-related _ to work towards a comprehensive settlement with the different shades of opinion in the polity and the different regions of the state to facilitate the participation of all in a democratic and peaceful manner in the politics and governance for the state. Sporadic attempts have been made to play off one section of opinion against the other. The internal dialogue has been neither sustained nor consistent. There is no vision guiding the process. High rhetoric is the preferred mode, not solid, practical steps towards defusing tensions and building consensus. Meanwhile, internal security measures are so flawed as to leave the innocent people of J&K vulnerable to terrorist attack. The early promise of the state government elected in 1996 has given way to cynical opportunism which gives no reassurance of determined movement towards the larger goal of restoring peace, normalcy and a healthy democratic ethos in the state. Vigilance at the borders has been so lax that the domestic problems of the state have been hugely compounded and magnified by the external dimension of cross-border terrorism and even invasion across the Line of Control. This is not the way forward. The people of Jammu & Kashmir, including the Pundits and others who have been made refugees in their own land, have the right to demand that the Central and State Governments match up to their responsibilities in this sensitive state. There is no hope of this so long as the State Government is neglectful of its obligations for good governance and the Centre is in the control those who do not have even the grace of a commitment to secularism to guide their day-to-day decisions.

As the part of Gandhiji and Panditji, the Congress prefers the path of peace and the pacific solution of issues. The Congress calls on the government to explore all avenues for peaceful settlement of issues.

8. Gujarat

a. What happened in Godhra on 27^th February, 2002, is an inhuman and barbaric act, which deserves all-round condemnation. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Hon'ble Congress President, was the first to condemn the horrors of Godhra and, as on that day, the only political leader to do so. But nothing can justify the horrific events that occurred later. The spine-chilling resort to cold-blooded violence targeted at helpless and guilt-less members of the minority community represents the methodology of the RSS. These events have been chronicled vividly and graphically by the Media and in the reports of the Statutory bodies under the Constitution like the National Human Rights Commission, National Minorities Commission and the National Commission for Women. That is why the Resolution passed by the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal of the RSS at Bangalore on 15-17 March, 2002, symbolizes the methodology of the RSS. In the midst of the Gujarat carnage, they asserted _ "let the Muslims understand that their real safety lies in the goodwill of the majority". It is the Constitution, the law of the land, and common humanity which guarantees the safety of all, majority or minority. The threatening tone of the RSS' assertion reflects their bullying ways and their non-acceptance of the Minorities as equal and honoured citizens of our country.

b. The Congress Party, under the determined leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, took up the cause of the hapless people of Gujarat, both inside and outside Parliament, to book the guilty for punishment and to provide speedy and comprehensive relief and rehabilitation to the victims. In contrast to this, the BJP government in the state actively collaborated with the horrendous excesses of the communal elements while the BJP at the Centre looked the other way or even encouraged the pogrom, beguiling public opinion with glib promises and double speak. The Congress is firmly of the view that Gujarat should be put under President's Rule immediately, so that all semblance of civilized behaviour is not lost; the people may get protection for their life, liberty and property; and effective relief and rehabilitation work can be carried out.

c. The Congress way of life, sanctified by Mahatma Gandhi in word and deed, is the ultimate reply to the insanity of Gujarat's perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity.

d. The Congress is determined to heal the wounds of Gujarat and to make the criminals and their protectors accountable. Gujarat will be peaceful and prosperous once again. We will uncover the root cause of the rupture in social relations and institutionalize early warning systems in the whole country. The dangers to democracy flagged by the Gujarat events will be addressed comprehensively and firmly.

9. Ayodhya

The Supreme Court of India has categorically stated that the status quo must be maintained at Ayodhya and no activity permitted by anyone there till the judicial announcement is issued. The Congress Party endorses this decision of the Court fully. The double-speak of the Prime Minister is unfortunately leading to tensions in this area. It is a sad spectacle to see his allies in the NDA being befooled. His statements change tone, tenor and content depending on where they are made.

10. The NDA Government and governance of the country

a. Ever since the National Democratic Alliance government was formed, the nation has witnessed with dismay that, because of the lack of cohesion and commitment, it has staggered from one cesspool of misgovernance into another, and has confronted the nation with a crisis of unprecedented dimensions. In every sphere of national activity, whether it be the defense of the country, maintaining internal security, implementation of programmes for social, political and economic development, poverty alleviation, spread of education and protection of the weaker sections of the society and women, we are witnessing a lamentable decline in performance.

b. The Congress Party will provide the role model for modern governance based on solid work being done by the Party in the fourteen states where it is in power. The Congress aspires to become the Party of Governance in India with a profile that is modern, yet rooted in our highest traditions; just and efficient, a society that gives an opportunity for human development.

11. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

The Congress Party deplores the cavalier manner in which the BJP-led coalition is treating the pressing issues and problems of the SC/ST communities. The Congress party shall make very conscious efforts to ensure that the dignity, social status, educational and economic development of these communities takes place in a manner to ensure their rightful claim in all spheres of activity, especially in their recruitment and promotion in government services. The Congress Party will keep track of the genuine interests of these communities in all the decisions that are being taken in respect of privatization, disinvestment and other spheres of activity. The Congress President's untiring efforts in this regard will continue until they become a reality.

11. a. The Congress Party reiterates its commitment made to these communities in the Plenary Session at Bangalore on the following issues :

i) "The Congress would give the most careful consideration to the various dimensions of the complex question of legally enforceable reservations in the private sector for different categories of disadvantageous sections of the society.

ii) The Congress renews its pledge made to these communities in the following words which form part of the Resolution on this subject at the Plenary Session at Bangalore _

"The Congress is deeply disturbed at attempts being made by the vested interests to directly or indirectly widen social cleavages among different SC communities with the aim of dividing these communities and thus depriving them of social status, on the one hand, and economic and political empowerment, on the other. To this end, and in consultation with leaders of the SC/ST communities, the Congress sets itself the task of drafting a Special Congress Programme for SC/ST communities, as Indiraji had done for the Minorities through her legendary 15-point Programme. The proposed Special Programme for the SC/ST communities will draw its inspiration and some of its sustenance from Indiraji's 20-Point Programme of 1975 and Rajivji's revised 20-Point Programme of 1986.

"The Congress renews its pledge to the SC/ST communities to stand by them at all times and continue to give the highest priority to the protection and promotion of the interests of the weaker sections of society."

11.b. The Hon'ble Congress President has, in her address to the Chief Ministers' Conclave at Guwahati, underlines the conclusions of the Dalits Convention held at Bhopal, and said that the issues that have been highlighted, would be part of the Congress' effort for giving shape to them.

12. Panchayat Raj Scheme

The Panchayat Raj Scheme envisaged and put into action by the visionary decisions of our late leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi are now bearing fruit as more and more states are implementing these Constitutional provisions. The Congress Party attaches the highest priority to further implement this programme so that the panchayats and Nagarpalikas emerge as fully empowered institutions of self-governance. We record with satisfaction that that States led by the Congress Party have emerged in the forefront of effective and sincere endeavours in this regard. In this the tenth anniversary year of the implementation of Parts _ IX and IX A of the Constitution relating respectively to the Panchayats and the Municipalities, the Congress rededicates itself to the vision of Power to the People _ Poorna Swaraj through Gram Swaraj _ which has animated it from the time of Mahatma Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, and continues in the present to be the fount of our inspiration. The 10^th Anniversary Congress Charater on Panchayats Raj is annexed.

13. Youth

A nation moves forward only by the initiative that the youth of the country takes for the development of our polity. Rajivji's inspiring vision for the youth of our country shall continue to guide our activities in this sphere. We call upon the young men and women of this country to come forward in increasing numbers to share both the burden and the achievements of establishing a just and equitable polity.

14. Women

The Hon'ble Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi's efforts to bring the women of this country increasingly to the frontlines of all national endeavours is yet to be fully achieved. The Party will make every conceivable effort to get the Women's Reservation Bill passed in Parliament and take all relevant steps to empower women fully, so that their role in every sphere of activity concerning the nation becomes a reality.

15. Media Policy

The freedom of the Press and the manner in which it is enshrined in the Constitution demonstrates the importance, which the founding fathers of our Constitution attached to it. The Party will constantly strive to do all it can to preserve and protect this basic tenet so that the Media continues to play its decisive role in the governance of the country.

16. The situation in the North-East

Insurgency and armed conflict are spreading in the North-East region, infecting areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and even Assam that had hitherto been spared the scourge. This is the direct consequence of the ham-handed manner in which talks are being conducted with the NSCN (IM) and other insurgent groups. There is an imperative need for raising the level of the talks to the political level and extending their ambit to cover all insurgent Naga groups. Moreover, terrorism in Manipur, Tripura and Assam, as also elsewhere in North-East, must be tackled with firmness and dispatch, matched by a readiness to seriously address political and economic grievances, but always within the framework of the Constitution and the indestructible unity and integrity of the nation. The advent of Congress government sin states like Manipur and Assam has set the stage for major initiatives to end the disturbances. But it is shocking that instead of addressing these problems in a non-partisan manner and in the higher interests of the country, ruling parties at the Centre like the BJP and the Samata Party were hand-in-glove with terrorist bodies in the recent elections in Manipur and even thereafter. The Congress calls for a greater sense of responsibility and commitment in preserving the integrity of India and restoring peace and normalcy in the North-East by a combination of firm anti-terrorist action and broad-based political negotiations.

a. It has to be accepted that only sustained developments of this region and the economic resurgence of the people can be the only real anti-dote to insurgency. A comprehensive plan and its execution can only be the real remedy for checking insurgency and feelings of alienation.

17. Political Stability

The last decade of the 20^th century brought forward immense challenges to the political system which is envisaged in the Constitution of India. The Parliament and the Cabinet system of governance have withstood these challenges by divising practical and workable systems of governance. The NDA government however, has frittered away all the advantages that accrued to the country by their short-sighted and unscrupulous exercise of power for their own ends. The Congress Party recognizes the continuation of some of these challenges. It, therefore, reiterates that it will act within the parameters set out at Pachmarhi and Bangalore Plenary Session in this regard.

Tenth Anniversary of Congress Charter on Panchayati Raj in AICC Session held in New Delhi on 24^th May, 2002

The All India Congress Committee, in this tenth anniversary year of the passage of Part _ IX and Part _ IX A of the Constitution relating to The panchayats and The Municipalities respectively.

Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's dream of Poorna Swaraj through Gram Swaraj and the initiative taken by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to realise that dream by securing Constitutional sanction and sanctity for Panchayati Raj.

Bearing in mind the Guwahati Resolve of 12 April, 2002 which instructed all state governments run by the Congress to convene sessions of their legislature to discuss Panchayati Raj, and the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi's call at the All India Panchayat Adhyakshas Sammelan on 5 April, 2002, for a special session of Parliament on Panchayati Raj.

Rededicates itself to the fulfillment in letter and spirit of the aims and objectives of Parts IX and IX A of the Constitution, and to this end, adopts the following charter :

· As the over-arching aim of Part IX is to "endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government" (Article 243 G), every effort must be made to enable the Panchayats at village, intermediate and district levels to function in practice as "institutions of self-government".

· Panchayats can fulfill their responsibility as institutions of self-government only if devolution is patterned on a nexus between Functions, Functionaries and Finances. All functional devolution must be complemented by the devolution of funds and functionaries to fulfill those functions.

· The size of a village panchayats should be fixed at a level that would facilitate democratic participation by all adult voters; where for any reason the size of the Gram Sabha appears too large for effective democratic participation, subsidiary Sabhas may be established at, say, the ward level.

· To ensure due attention to problems and concerns of women, a sub-quorum of female attendance may be built into the required quorum for meetings of the Gram Sabha. Moreover, meetings of the Gram Sabha should be preceded by meetings of the Mahila Sabha, comprising all adult women voters of the village panchayat, to ensure that gender concerns and preferences get fully reflected in the proceedings of the Gram Sabha.

· There is a disturbing lack of clarity about the tasks entrusted to different tiers of the Panchayati Raj System. There should be a clear division of devolved functions (along with functionaries and finances) to different tiers of the Panchayati Raj system. To this end, it is essential that state governments establish expert bodies to clearly designate which functions will be exercised at which tier of the three-tier system.

· As far as practicable, simultaneous elections should be held to all three tiers of the Panchayat system and the Municipalities.

· To check malpractices and the growing influence of money power and muscle power in Panchayat elections, state election authorities should draw up a code for the conduct of elections to the rural and urban institutions of self-government that would contribute to free, fair, transparent and economical elections.

· Panchayats at all levels should function through standing and ad hoc committees so that proposals are processed by such committees and then brought before the general body of the Panchayat for approval before, during and after the execution of works. Utilisation certificates should be issued by the Panchayat as a whole and, at the village level, after securing the endorsement of the Gram Sabha. Gram Sabhas will have functional relevance and the elected members of the Panchayats will be able to do real and meaningful work only if the Chairperson operates as Chairperson-in-Council, thus reducing the scope for nepotism and corruption.

· The two key functions of the Panchayats at each level, as defined in Article 243 G are :

"(a) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;

(b) the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice."

The highest priority must, therefore, be given to the constitution and functioning of the District Planning Committees. All devolved subjects must be implemented only through the Panchayats at the appropriate level. Gram Sabhas should be involved in implementation through beneficiary identification, approval of Panchayat proposals, and the issue of utilization certificates.

· DRDAs should be disbanded and merged with district panchayats, with the Chairperson of the district panchayats as Chairperson of the merged DRDA.

· All funds for central and centrally-sponsored schemes falling within the ambit of the Eleventh Schedule should be channeled direct to the Panchayats at the appropriate level.

· The recommendations of State Finance Commissions should be processed expeditiously and immediately after approval by the State Legislature, implemented fully and conscientiously. Allocations made by the central Finance Commission should reach the elected local bodies without delay or diversion.

· State should work towards establishing a Panchayat Service to meet the administrative and technical personnel requirements of the elected Panchayats at all three levels.

· There is a need for harmonizing and clarifying the body of jurisprudence arising out of the relatively recent introduction of Part IX. This may be undertaken in consultation with the judicial authorities concerned.

· State Governments should urgently examine the compatibility of pre-Part IX state legislation with the new Constitutional provisions and state Panchayati Raj legislation.

· There has been a mushrooming of parallel bodies which is seriously undermining the functions entrusted to the Panchayats by virtue of Article 243 G and the Eleventh Schedule. Such parallel bodies must be wound up or brought under the overall aegis of Panchayats at the appropriate level.

· As Parts IX and IXA were designed as mutually reinforcing Parts of the Constitution to integrate economic and social development in the urban areas with their rural hinterland, Ministers of Panchayats and Nagarpalikas, both at the Centre and in the States, should be combined or so coordinated as to promote the synergies required for mutually reinforcing rural urban development.

· Special attention should be given to the training requirements of elected Members and Panchayats staff, including representatives of the weaker sections and women.

Thank You