Will continue to fight hate with peace, love: Congress on foundation day

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing war of words and controversies over ''The Accidental Prime Minister'', a film starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh which is believed to highlight rifts within the party, the former prime minister and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday cut a cake together to mark 134 years of the grand old party.

134th Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress at the AICC. Tribune Photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui.

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 28

Amid the ongoing war of words and controversies over 'The Accidental Prime Minister', a film starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh which is believed to highlight rifts within the party, the former prime minister and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday cut a cake together to mark 134 years of the grand old party.

The party said it would continue to fight the "propagators of hate with peace, unity and love" — an indirect attack against the BJP—while the video of the joint cake-cutting saw Gandhi cutting a slice of the cake and serving it to Singh on a plate.

Senior leaders such as Motilal Vohra and Ahmed Patel were seated next to the Congress chief.

The event was attended by top leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Defence Minister AK Antony and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Gandhi also hoisted the party's flag at its Akbar Road headquarters and acknowledged the selfless service and contribution of leaders and workers in building the party.

Taking to Twitter, he said, “On Congress Foundation Day, let us celebrate and acknowledge the selfless service and contributions of millions of Congress workers, men and women, who have helped build and sustain the Congress party over the ages. We owe these unsung heroes our gratitude and respect. I salute them all.”

The Congress also said over the last 134 years of its 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".

"For the Congress party, love is always the answer. We will continue to fight the propagators of hate with peace, unity and love,” the party said.

"A dialogue started on 28th Dec 1885 which brought together diverse people of India. As we complete 134 years, let's revisit some moments which made Congress what it is today. The ones that got India independence, which made our roots stronger & gave us a vision for the future," stated a video posted by the party on its official Twitter handle.

A cake was also cut by Antony, whose birthday happens to be today.