Maharashtra, Haryana Elections doctored, wasn't free and fair: Cong says after CWC meeting
Belagavi: The Congress party held a press conference on Thursday following the conclusion of its Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Belagavi. This significant meeting marked the centenary of the party's only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi in Belgaum in 1924.
Addressing the media, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Communications In-Charge Jairam Ramesh, and Spokesperson Pawan Khera outlined the key takeaways from the discussions held during the meeting.
The leaders revealed that the CWC deliberated extensively on various issues concerning the party's future direction and strategies. The major points discussed included:
1. Organizational Revamp:
The Congress emphasized restoring accountability among its leaders at every level. It was decided that an organizational revamp would be carried out to strengthen the party's presence and performance on the ground.
2. Massive Political Campaigns:
To reconnect with the masses, the party has planned a series of campaigns and events, including:
- Nationwide rallies and padayatras to be held on December 27, 2024, and January 26, 2026.
- A special campaign titled Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan aimed at addressing threats to the Constitution and raising issues affecting the common man.
3. Upcoming AICC Session:
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) will hold its next session in Gujarat in April 2025, which is expected to set the tone for the party's strategy leading into upcoming elections.
The Congress leaders also expressed serious concerns regarding the transparency and impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI). They specifically pointed to the recent elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, alleging that the process was manipulated.
Jairam Ramesh stated, “Both the Maharashtra and Haryana elections were doctored. These were not free and fair elections at all. The attitude and functioning of the ECI in these states raise serious doubts about their commitment to democratic principles.”
The CWC meeting in Belagavi holds historical significance as it commemorated 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress session in Belgaum in 1924. The leaders used the occasion to reflect on Gandhi’s vision for India and pledged to uphold the values of justice, equality, and democracy that he stood for.
With the announcement of these initiatives and campaigns, the Congress party aims to reinvigorate its base and challenge the ruling government on critical issues.
Watch: Press briefing by Shri @kcvenugopalmp, Shri @Jairam_Ramesh and Shri @Pawankhera after the conclusion of CWC meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka. https://t.co/8SI8xhItEl
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 26, 2024
बेलगावी में हुई विस्तारित CWC की ‘नव सत्याग्रह’ बैठक में हमारा नव संकल्प - संविधान की रक्षा के लिए हम संगठित हैं, संकल्पित हैं, समर्पित हैं! pic.twitter.com/QK1JwwgU4G
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
