Poll reform, Places of Worship Act ‘violations’ among key topics at CWC meet

The Congress Working Committee on Friday announced its “firmest commitment” to the letter and spirit of the 1991 Places of Worship Act and said that it will begin a national movement against the “severely compromised” election process and “partisan functioning of the Election Commission” against the backdrop of a string of poll losses. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi identified the “violation” of the Places of Worship Act, polling process and the demand for a probe into allegations against the Adani group as “people’s issues” and told the party to take a firm stand and go to the hilt on these issues, said people aware of developments. “Ironically, three big leaders from Haryana — Randeep Surjewala, Kumari Selja and Deepender Hooda – were present in the meeting but didn’t speak a word on the state polls,” said a CWC member, requesting anonymity. Later the CWC resolution said the party’s performance in Haryana has been “contrary to all expectations” and the Congress “should have formed the government in the state by a convincing margin but it didn’t”.