The ‘Nyay Path’ resolution adopted at the AICC Session on Wednesday underwent some major changes at the last minute to include a mention of secularism, I.N.D.I.A bloc and judicial accountability as well as elaborating on party’s Palestine stand.
Ahmedabad: With some senior leaders raising concerns about omissions, the ‘Nyay Path’ resolution adopted at the AICC Session on Wednesday underwent some major changes at the last minute to include a mention of secularism, I.N.D.I.A bloc and judicial accountability as well as elaborating on party’s Palestine stand.
At the extended Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Anand Sharma raised concerns about the draft, which also did not elaborate specific aspects of its social justice agenda like dismantling of SC/ST Sub Plan, abolishing 50% quota cap and reservation for SC, ST and OBCs in private educational institutions.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal had said on Tuesday that the Drafting Committee would sit again to “incorporate” suggestions made at the extended CWC. Some leaders, sources said, were not happy with the draft as it did not reflect the party’s long-standing positions on issues or its demands.
As a section felt that the absence of a mention about I.N.D.I.A could create trouble, the final resolution recalled “constructive cooperation and collective efforts” not just with time-tested allies. It said Congress “created and sustained” the architecture of I.N.D.I.A on the commonality of people’s issues and the party stands committed to continuing this effort even in the future.
Absence of Congress’ commitment to secularism in the resolution also raised eyebrows and it prompted an addition. The party’s commitment to secularism is inspired by “age-old traditions of India, that is Bharat”, it said.
On the Palestine front, the drafting committee initially chose not to mention the party’s commitment for a “negotiated and peaceful resolution as also for the creation of a separate state of Palestine as per the UN resolution” but was added.
Amid a renewed debate on judicial accountability, the drafting committee inserted a paragraph later mentioning the recovery of cash from the residence of a High Court judge, calling it “alarming”. The resolution did not explicitly oppose the collegium system but said the judiciary must set safeguards and standards for accountability.