Addressing the Congress plenary meet on Sunday in New Delhi,the Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that "We have to pay attention to our weaknesses also,which are visible from time to time". She also said that Congress would hold brainstorming sessions soon on the lines of Pachmarhi and Shimla in the past. The Congress president further added "I think the complaint of Congress workers in states ruled by the Opposition parties that Union ministers are not paying attention to their grievances is correct". In the plenary session,the Congress unanimously passed the resolution extending the term of the Congress president to five years from three years. The Congress chief further added that Congress is opposed to fundamentalism of all shades - whether by majority or minority organisations. Both are dangerous and should be tackled. Sonia said "Parliament cannot be held hostage to political blackmailing". While talking on the recently completed Bihar assembly polls,she said "we have made it very clear that the party has to be built from the ground and grassroots. There are no easy routes,no shortcuts." On corruption,Ms. Gandhi said that the party and the government must confront corruption head-on. She also added that "We have asked our Chief Minister and Ministers to resign on charges of corruption. Can the BJP or the Left parties make the same claim. In Karnataka,corruption is rampant." "There should be no tolerance for corruption or misconduct,we have demonstrated it through our actions," Ms. Gandhi said. "Congressmen and women holding offfice must not allow any doubt about their probity and integrity. It will become representative of a party claiming to speak for the poor to indulge in greed,extravagance and luxury," she added. The plenary also marks the completion of the 125 years of the Congress,which is the oldest political party in the country. The party also amended its constitution to allow holding organisational polls once every five years as against three years at present. Another key amendment pertained to meeting of the AICC at least once every year. Earlier,the party constitution mandated that AICC should meet not less than twice every year. The Delhi Plenary is the first such meet of the party after it came to power for the second time along with other UPA partners in the Lok Sabha elections last year. The plenary also adopted a condolence resolution mourning the death of some AICC and PCC members. Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Singh also felicitated freedom fighters for their contribution to the independence struggle. Both the leaders came down from the dais to honour the veteran freedom fighters,some of whom broke down as they narrated their struggles to Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Singh.
