July9th 2003
	Taking stock and reviewing the current political, social and economic situation in the country, Being concerned with the state of the nation brought about by the massive and glaring failures of the BJP-led NDA government and its divisive policies, Responding to the public sentiment against the sharp fall in the rate of economic growth, mounting unemployment, stagnant investment, dire distress of kisans and khet mazdoors, increasing neglect of rural India and youth, grievous damage to social harmony and amity, growing jeopardy to defence preparedness and national security, rampant corruption and scams and the erosion of the independence of the country?s foreign policy, Conscious of the uniqueness of the Indian National Congress arising from several basic features of its history, its character, its ideology and the legacy of its leadership, Continuing to be inspired by the life and the message of Mahatma Gandhi and recalling at this critical moment the yeoman contribution to nation building and social reform of a galaxy of remarkable Congressmen and women like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Subash Chandra Bose, Rajaji, Acharya Kripalani, Kamaraj, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indiraji, Rajivji and many other stalwarts, Appreciating the successful stewardship of the country under successive Congress governments at the centre and in states that have resulted in economic growth and social transformation, Acknowledging the support, goodwill and affection of all sections of our society, particularly the weaker sections like dalits, adivasis, OBCs, minorities and women, Taking inspiration from Smt. Sonia Gandhi?s inaugural speech at this Vichar Manthan Shivir in which she has spelt out a comprehensive vision, strategy and action programme for our party, from her relentless efforts to give voice, respect and position to the karyakartas across the country, Proclaims the following Shimla Sankalp Political Challenges 1.The Indian National Congress announces that it stands fully prepared and ready to face the national elections at any time. No sacrifice should be too great for each and every Congressman and woman to ensure defeat of the BJP and its allies in the forthcoming elections. Throughout its annals, the dedication and sacrifices of lakhs of its workers across the length and breadth of this vast country that has sustained the Congress, in and out of power. It will be the dynamism of this committed cadre along with the support of the people that will ensure the victory of the Congress under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. 2.The Indian National Congress will launch and sustain a Jan Jagran Abhiyan across the country to expose the BJP-led NDA government?s comprehensive and glaring failures on security, defence, communal harmony, economic growth, social welfare, good governance, foreign policy and probity and transparency in public life. 3.The Indian National Congress re-emphasises its unwavering commitment to fight religious fundamentalism of all kinds. It also reiterates its resolve to combat in as determined a manner as possible the evil and cynical attempts being made by the BJP, the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal to distort and destroy the liberal and tolerant essence of the Hinduism. It will also ensure that the essence of all great religions and faiths that have flourished for millennia on the soil of our country are protected and respected. 4.The Indian National Congress rededicates itself to strengthening the forces of nationalism that celebrate India?s multiple diversities and nurture its many unities. The Indian National Congress expresses its commitment to the people that the communalisation of education will not go unchallenged and that the values of our Freedom Movement, of our Constitution and of our culture will resonate in schools and educational institutions through the Bapu Sadbhavna and Shiksha Trust It calls upon all like-minded, progressive people to participate in this historic endeavour. 5.The Indian National Congress applauds the courage of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have reinforced their commitment to secular democracy. It was the sagacity and concern for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the concern for the national interest that led Smt. Sonia Gandhi to agree to the formation of a PDP-led coalition government in J&K. The Indian National Congress accords the highest priority to the success of this coalition and to the formulation and execution of an effective strategy to deal with cross-border terrorism by the Centre. At the same time, the Indian National Congress will forcefully resist all attempts at using the issue of cross-border terrorism to polarise our society on religious and communal lines. 6.The Indian National Congress is committed to the rapid and equitable development of all regions of our vast country. The special challenges and concerns of the people of the northeast will receive our undivided attention. The dangerous and nefarious political game being played by the BJP-led NDA government in collaboration with various insurgent groups will be exposed and resisted determinedly in the larger interests of our country. 7.The Indian National Congress promises the people of the country an accelerated, time-bound programme for the modernisation of defence and a programme for providing full educational and housing facilities to the families of our armed forces and for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families as well. 8.The Indian National Congress is firm in its commitment to Jawaharlal Nehru?s vision of foreign policy. That framework has in-built flexibility to respond to the dynamics of a changing world keeping our national interests paramount. For the Congress, non-alignment has essentially meant independence in foreign policy. Recalling Rajiv Gandhi?s historic efforts for the establishment of the nuclear weapons-free world, the Indian National Congress reiterates its commitment to universal nuclear disarmament. As part of this process, the Congress Party believes in the need for initiating a dialogue with our nuclear neighbours for confidence-building measures and for managing the consequences of nuclearisation. People-Oriented Governance, Rural Transformation and Social Empowerment 9.The Indian National Congress identifies the following as the core priorities in its agenda of governance in keeping with its beacon Congress Ka Haath, Garib Ke Saath: The assurance of reliable power, cheaper credit, better seeds, assured irrigation and remunerative prices to kisans across the country. The devolution of funds, functions and functionaries so as to fully empower panchayats and nagarpalikas and make them vibrant institutions of local self-government. The enactment of a national rural employment guarantee by law and making employment growth for educated youth the overriding objective of all economic policies. The establishment of food and nutrition security for all at more affordable prices and more particularly for the destitute and vulnerable sections of our society and for those living in the poorer and backward regions of the country. The introduction of social insurance and other schemes for the protection and welfare of all workers but particularly for those in the unorganised sector who constitute over 93% of our labour force. The acceleration of the implementation of land reforms and the initiation of reforms in land laws and record of rights to enable the conversion from the present system of presumptive titles to conclusive titles guaranteed by the state. The launching of major programmes for the economic advancement, social empowerment, political representation and legal equality of dalits, adivasis, OBCs and minorities. The time-bound implementation of the Mahila Sashaktikaran Sankalp adopted by the AICC on October 1, 2002. The start of a purposeful dialogue with private industry on how best India?s social diversity could be reflected in the private sector in different ways like reservations and fiscal incentives, how privatisation where inevitable can protect the welfare of the weaker sections of society and how government procurement can promote entrepreneurship among dalits and adivasis. The introduction of liberal loan and scholarship schemes to ensure that no boy or girl belonging to the weaker sections of society is denied the benefit of school and college education. The deepening of fiscal and other economic reforms to make Indian agriculture, industry and services productive and competitive and to increase public investment particularly in irrigation, power, education and health. The functioning of government in a completely transparent, responsive and accountable manner with special focus on major administrative, police and judicial reforms. 10.The Indian National Congress recalls with pride that it was Rajiv Gandhi who brought India into the IT, computer and telecom age. The Indian National Congress also recalls with pride that it was a Congress government that launched economic reforms in the early 1990s to consolidate and expand on the gains made in earlier decades. Social mobility and the expansion of the middle class in India is a direct consequence of the Congress?s economic policies followed after Independence. The dynamic entrepreneurial base in India is a direct result of the Congress?s vision and policies. The Indian National Congress is the only party that integrates pro-poor policies, programmes and perspectives with the concerns and aspirations of the middle classses and entrepreneurial communities. 11.The Indian National Congress fully recognises that the youth are our country?s most precious and productive assets. They will get the Congress?s maximum political, social and economic support to realise their aspirations in education, employment and entrepreneurship. Organisational Reforms 12.The Indian National Congress rededicates itself to a renaissance of the country?s political culture along the lines identified in the Congress President?s opening speech at this Vichar Manthan Shivir. It renews its commitment to major electoral reforms, among other things, to make party funding more transparent and to combat criminalisation of politics. 13.The Indian National Congress decides to establish a national training institute. Every Congressman and woman will go through an annual orientation course on contemporary political, economic and social issues and constructive work.   14.In keeping with the sentiments expressed by the Congress President in her opening speech at Shimla, the Indian National Congress reiterates its firm commitment to giving grassroots workers across the country a respected place in the party organisation. Conclusion The Indian National Congress fought for Independence and secured it for our people. We must now fight to preserve it and its time-tested values in their truest form. Our unshakeable commitment is to the politics of principles, to democracy, secularism, economic growth and social empowerment. We now seek the support of the people to bring India back on the path of Progress with Congress under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. We invite all progressive-thinking men and women, institutions and political movements who share our understanding of India?s past, our concerns with India?s present and our vision of India?s future to join us in this historic endeavour.