The two-day session of the Congress Working Committee (CEC) in Belagavi, Karnataka, ends up in a 'distorted' map row with the Bharatiya Janata Party (CWC) accusing the grand old party of using an 'incorrect' map of India on posters of the mega event . The Congress is in power in Karnataka.
The map shows part of Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan. The BJP has reacted strongly, accusing the Congress of appeasement politics.
“The Karnataka Congress has shown total disrespect for India's sovereignty by displaying a distorted map depicting Kashmir as part of Pakistan at their event in Belagavi. All this just to appease their vote bank. This is shameful,” said a message from Karnataka BJP on X.
The Congress Party has distanced itself from the dispute and says these are not official banners of the party.
The Congress will hold an extended session of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) – the party's highest decision-making body – and a meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka on Thursday and Friday. The event commemorates the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi who presided over the historic Belgaum (now Belagavi) session of the Congress as party president in 1924.
Top brass of the Congress, including chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with CWC members and senior party leaders from across the country, will attend the two-day event.
Why Belagavi?
After his release from prison in February 1924 following surgery, Mahatma Gandhi was dissatisfied with the lack of unity between Hindus and Muslims during the freedom struggle. That year he fasted for 21 days from September 18 to October 8 to 'bridge' this gap. He also wanted to address the issue of rampant factionalism in the Congress party.
Congress MP KC Venugopal said the event is being held to celebrate the centenary of the party's 1924 session. Venugopal called it a “historic event” in which around 200 leaders will participate.
“Mahatma Gandhi delivered his speech in Belgaum mainly on non-violence, non-cooperation as a means of achieving political freedom, removing untouchability, promoting unity among communities, the need to tackle socio-economic inequality and the principle of justice and equality This was the content of Gandhi ji's speech in 1924. The Belgaum session became the foundation of the Indian freedom movement,” he said.
Mahatma Gandhi delivered his speech in Belgaum mainly on non-violence and non-cooperation as a means to achieve political freedom.