Picking on the land ordinance, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said “this government has effectively destroyed this landmark legislation [Land Acquisition Act] and brought back the law passed by the British in 1894 through the backdoor”. As for the ordinance on coal mines, it has “surreptitiously undone the spirit of nationalisation of coal mines” that had crucial safeguards.
In light of what the Gandhis said on ending the disconnect between workers and the leadership, the Congress is considering amending the party constitution to institutionalise a mechanism for involving workers in the decision-making process – currently a closed shop – and allowing online membership which is already there in the BJP. “These are only suggestions and a final decision will be taken after wider consultation,” general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told the media.
Mr. Gandhi spoke at length on the inefficiencies in the distribution of power within the party; a “pet subject of his” as a CWC member put it.
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According to him, the average Congress worker felt alienated and there was an urgent need to involve them in the decision-making process.
“Congress committees at all levels – block, district and State – do not feel fully empowered,” Mr. Gandhi is reported to have said as a result of which accountability of leaders and organisational structures are weak.