Sonia to decide Cong plans on Mahatma's 150th anniversary

New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of all party leaders on September 12 to discuss the party's week-long programme on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, party sources said.

According to party sources, Sonia Gandhi has called the meeting of the General Secretaries, state in-charges, state presidents, heads of the frontal organisations and the secretaries to discuss plans how the party will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on September 12 at the party headquarters.

This is the first major meeting of Sonia Gandhi with all the senior leaders after she took over charge of the party from her son and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on August 10. Earlier in the day, several party leaders met here at the party headquarters to discuss and finalise the week-long programmes.

On Wednesday, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal in a letter to all the general secretaries, state in-charges, state chiefs, secretaries and frontal organisation chiefs has asked them to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma for a week from October 2 to 9.

The party has planned ‘padyatras' on October 2 across the country, while different programmes from October 3 to 9, to propagate the ideals of the Mahatma across the nation.

According to the Congress leaders, the party will stick to the ideologies of Bapu like non-violence, communal harmony, service of the poor, elimination of untouchability, prevention of caste atrocities and strengthening institutions of panchayati raj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech said that he will launch a campaign by doing 'shramdaan' against 'single use plastic' to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of the Mahatma on October 2.

According to BJP leaders, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has already put in place a multi-ministry plan to launch its campaign against single use plastic on October 2.