New Delhi, Oct 27 (FN Agency) The Congress is considering making changes to the party constitution, which was written in 1920, to make it in consonance with the present times, party sources said. According to sources, at a meeting of party office bearers held in Delhi on Tuesday, demands were made to change certain aspects of the party constitution, which is almost a hundred years old. The Congress constitution requires members to abstain from alcohol and drugs. At the time of joining the party, the members also have to give an undertaking to never criticise the party’s policies and programmes in public forums.
It also requires members to wear Khadi. These clauses also reflect in the membership forms of the party, and as the Congress is set to launch an extensive membership drive, it was felt that the changes were necessary. Sources said former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, during the meeting on Tuesday, said it makes no sense in present times to have the abstention clause. Similar points were made about the clause for wearing Khadi. As per sources, it was agreed that the party needs to amend the Constitution to make it resonate with contemporary times. It was decided that a committee would be constituted to look into the issues and amend some of the clauses of the Constitution. Last time the Congress’ constitution was amended in November 2010 to increase the tenure of the party president from three years to five years. The Congress Working Committee can amend the party constitution, which would then have to be ratified in a session of AICC.
As per the party constitution, new members joining the party have to declare they are “a habitual weaver of certified Khadi”, “abstains from alcoholic drinks and intoxicant drugs”, “neither believes in nor practices untouchability in any shape or form and undertakes to work for its removal and “undertakes to perform minimum tasks including manual labour as may be prescribed by the Working Committee”. It also requires members to declare they will not own any property in excess of the ceiling laws applicable to them, and will not, directly or indirectly, openly or otherwise, adversely criticise the accepted policies and programmes of the party, except through party forums. The Congress would be launching a membership drive from November 1 till March 31, 2022. A meeting of Congress General Secretaries, state party presidents and in-charges was called on Tuesday as a follow-up to the October 16 CWC meet, where the membership drive, upcoming polls, and training programs for party workers were discussed along with other issues.