The change may have been made to keep up with the times, but former Kerala PCC chief VM Sudheeran doesn’t like it. He has written to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and general secretary KC Venugopal to protest the change.
At a recent party meeting in Raipur, the decision was made to make the change.
The party’s new constitution says that people can only join if they don’t use “psychotropic substances, illegal drugs, and intoxicants.” In the old version of the party’s rules, article 5 said, “He or she is a regular weaver of certified khadi and doesn’t drink or use drugs that make them feel high.”
“I’d like to point out that not drinking alcohol and the khadi movement were part of the fight for freedom, and that for decades, they were slogans and symbols of the great Indian National Congress. Sudheeran said that by changing the clause, our party is, in a way, rejecting the freedom movement and Gandhian values.
“It should be taken seriously that this amendment was passed at a time when alcohol and drug use have become a major health and social problem in the country.” “The decision of the Raipur plenary will no doubt have far-reaching effects and will definitely encourage the promotion and sale of liquor in the country,” he added.
A leader of the Congress pointed out that the new constitution makes it clear that alcohol and drugs are not allowed. “Weaving khadi will always be a big part of who a Congress member is, but we’ve also made some changes because the times have changed.”
The changed constitution says that people who want to join the party must have done “tasks and projects for creating public assets for the society,” such as “shramdaan” (volunteer public service) and blood donation camps, especially for the poor and disadvantaged. They must also act “in a way that serves the cause of social justice, equality, and harmony.”
They also have to say they haven’t “violated the land ceiling laws or been convicted of a crime involving a heinous crime or moral turpitude.” They can’t criticize the party’s official policies and programs in public.
