Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan convention, which will be held in Belagavi on January 21, was aimed at honouring Mahatma Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar.
Speaking after a preparatory meeting in Hubballi, Shivakumar said the event will send a strong message about the importance of preserving constitutional values.
“Gandhiji’s history is Congress’s history and Congress’s history is the nation’s history. We are following in Mahatma Gandhi’s footsteps,” he said.
He said the convention would be organised by the Congress under Mallikarjun Kharge’s leadership. The event was originally slated for December 27 last year, but was rescheduled due to the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“It has been 100 years since Gandhiji led the Congress as its president, paving the way for India’s independence and the drafting of the Constitution. The Constitution is sacred, and this event underscores its importance,” he added.
Over 75,000 attendees from the Kitturu Karnataka region are expected to attend the event. Shivakumar said the Congress will distribute 50,000 Gandhi caps and one lakh badges for the event.
The programme at Suvarna Soudha will be limited to invitees, with a public party gathering later in the day.
“This is not a political event,” Shivakumar clarified, urging people across party lines to participate.
“We must protect the legacy of Gandhiji and uphold the Constitution for younger generations,” he said.
Asked about BJP’s allegations that the event was politically motivated and funded publicly, Shivakumar retorted, “We belong to the Gandhi family while they belong to the Godse family. The Suvarna Soudha programme is government-organised, while the party event is separate.”
The Congress plans to open 100 new party offices across Karnataka. Shivakumar called the convention a foreword to the party’s campaign for the 2028 Assembly polls.