THE next millennium has begun and it is time for the the Congress to seriously oblectively introspect to act. Particularly, in the last decade, the alienation of the organisation from the masses had been serious. The Congress has a hoary past with a pristine glory spreading over a century. Under the leadership of its stalwarts the then Congress thrived in frank discussion, ultimately leading to consensus for it represented unity in diversity.

The basis strength of the Congress was its value system and principles rooted in the Indian culture, its civilisation and the diversified unity of its spiritual religosity.

Our freedom struggle was a movement in which every compatriot took part. Mahatma Gandhi showed us the path of truth and Ahinsa and set the country afire. We became independent under the leadership of the Congress. And over the decades the country surged ahead under the leadership of great leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajivji.

Even today the Congress has a special place in national politics, development and the future of the country. To make the citizens aware and lead their fight for right, to take forward the Dalits, tribals, backwards, minorities and women, raise voice against corruption, work for a better future for yputh, all these are our duties. It is also our duty to follow the ideals of the country, the ideals for which many patriots lived and laid down their lives.

Our freedom movement was unique in the sense that people from top to bottom were involved in it. The movement which we are going to launch today should also involve people from all works of life.  Today is the foundation day of Congress. The Indian National Congress, in its 114 years of history, has added to the glory of the nation and has created a new history. Congress was never just a political party. It has been a movement for social and political values. The twentieth century was in way the Congress century. In the same way as our forefathers launched the freedom movement, we have to fight for the new political and social values in the 21^st century. We have to alight a new flame. We have to fight against those who want to divide us in the name of caste, religion, language and regions; in other words, those who want to destroy our heritage.

We have assembled here today to set alight the flame again to rededicate ourselves to a new movement. This should be a movement against poverty, unemployment, lack of education, corruption, injustice and communalism. The ‘Sankalp-yatra’ which starts today, will reach Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, on the day of his martyrdom, 30^th January. Lakhs of party workers and people from all the classes of the society will participate in it. This Yatra will specially start from Kanyakumari, Sriperambudur, calcutta, Jalpaiguri and srinagar. Its objective is mass awakeing.

The type of politics to which the nation is a witness today, will benefit none. Opportunism and lure for power prevail everywhere. Peoplr are more interested in selfaggrandizement. This is not what the leaders of our freedom struggle had taught us. Their path was the path of service, renunciation and secrifice. Their lives were dedicated not to themselves and their families but to country and its people. It is whatmade the history of our freedom movement so unparalleled. We have to re-kindly the same spirit in our great country.

At present, the country is faced with bib challenges. People foresee a dim future. This can be attributed to the persent state of politics. It is imperative, therefore, that political standareds improve and follow the ideals and the path of public service. Government should not follow policies which benefit their parties. Instead, the benefit should reach the common man, particularly the poor.

Today, at the centre and in several states, government are not responsive. Those running the governments are more concerned about their seats of power. You know batter then I about the state of affairs in your state, which was once prosperous in all respects.

The Congress party has always formulated policies which are not limited to the present. We are proud of our diverse civilization and composite heritage. Our religions can be different, our languages,dressing habits may be different, but every Indian has a similar sentiment at heart. Whoever has tried to break our unity has been steadfasely opposed. We have faced every danger. If there is unity in the country, camaraderie in the society, nobody can stop us from going ahead. No power in world can bend us.

It was due to the strength of such thoughts and feelings that we won freedom from the British and established democracy in the country. We formed a constitution on the basis of which our country is treading the path of democracy for the last 50 years. The programme of this Yatra is the symbol of our motives and resolutions in the coming century. In fact, the journey of a party like the Congress never stops. It should continuously go on. Wherever we stop, the next generation will step in. We have to see that they follow the right path, that nobody misleads them.

Today, on this historic day, on this historic land, I appeal to you all brothers and sisters to maintain the tradition of Congress in every village, in every ward and lane and carry it forward. The Congress party alone can meet the future challenges. Only the Congress ideology has dreams and visions of the India of tomorrow. The India of the dreams of our martyrs and freedom-fighters can be built only by you and us. I have no doubt about it. Today, we should take a pledge to become the voice of the poor, to fight against atrocities, to maintain the unity of the country. We have to make a resolution that in the new century we will start afresh, with a pure heart and true intentions, making the lives of our compatriots better and striving to build a new India.