The Indian National Congress (INC) celebrated its 134th Foundation Day on Friday. Congress, India’s oldest political party, celebrated the day by hoisting the national flag and paying tributes to the founding members, its iconic leaders through the epochs, and freedom fighters.
“Over the last 134 years of Congress history, we have stood for justice, equality, non-violence, unity, freedom and, above all, dialogue. For all the years to come, we will continue to uphold these values and stand with the people of our country,” the party said in a tweet.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi celebrated the day by cutting a cake with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders of the party at the AICC Headquarters in New Delhi.
The party emphasised on the value of non-violence, saying that it will always stand by it. It also tweeted a quote of the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel where he said, “The measure of our non-violence will be the measure of our success.”
A core value of the Congress Party is non-violence. An ideal preached and practiced by our leaders, it continues to resonate with us today in our actions.#CongressFoundationDay pic.twitter.com/rWdyjXgUhN
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 28, 2018
In another tweet, it quoted the ideal of “love and sacrifice” for the country espoused by Sarojini Naidu, an eminent poetess, freedom fighter, and Congress leader.
The Congress was founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Dinshaw Wacha. Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was the first president of the Congress. Only 72 delegates attended the foundation meeting held in 1885 in Bombay.
Five women have been Congress Presidents, namely Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Nellie Sengupta, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi.
(With agency inputs)