Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched the party’s crowdfunding campaign ‘Donate for Desh’ in the national capital ahead of the general election, urging people to contribute to the fight against unemployment and rising costs. Kharge personally donated ₹1,38,000 from his salary to kickstart the campaign, emphasizing the importance of seeking support from the general public instead of relying solely on wealthy individuals. The initiative aims to collect funds from small donors to build the country and champion the rights of marginalized communities.
Kharge expressed his satisfaction with the party’s new app that facilitates the crowdfunding campaign, stating that it marks the first time Congress is seeking the help of common people to contribute to the country’s development. He highlighted the significance of not depending solely on the rich for support, as it could compromise the party’s independence in shaping policies and programs.
Through the ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign, Congress plans to take the country forward with the support of the general public, following the tradition of seeking help from ordinary citizens. Kharge emphasized the party’s commitment to fighting for the welfare of the poor and stressed that the initiative is more than just a campaign – it’s a commitment to champion the rights of marginalized communities and stand as a formidable opposition against a government favoring the affluent.
The campaign encourages individuals to contribute amounts like ₹138, ₹1,380, or ₹1,38,000, providing flexibility for donors to choose a suitable amount. The party’s leaders, including Kharge and general secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, envision the campaign as a commitment to building a better India by addressing unemployment and economic challenges.
The ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign is launched as Congress completes 138 years, and it draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s historic ‘Tilak Swaraj Fund’ launched in 1920-21. Rahul Gandhi, another prominent Congress leader, appealed to the people on social media, expressing confidence that together, they can make a better India.
The fundraising drive will primarily be conducted online until the party’s foundation day on December 28. Subsequently, Congress volunteers plan to go door-to-door to seek contributions of at least ₹138 from the public. This approach is reminiscent of the party’s 2018 outreach-cum-crowdfunding campaign, although the earlier initiative did not gain significant momentum.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party, criticized Congress’s fundraising effort, alleging that those who looted India for 60 years were now seeking funds. BJP leader Amit Malviya raised concerns about the potential misuse of public money and accused Congress of using the campaign as a means to enrich the Gandhi family. He urged people not to be fooled by Congress’s rhetoric and cautioned against “Donating for Dynasty.”
Congress’s crowdfunding initiative represents a strategic move to mobilize funds from the public, engaging individuals in the political process and portraying the party as one that prioritizes grassroots support over dependency on wealthy donors. The success of the campaign will likely depend on the public’s response and their perception of the party’s transparency and commitment to addressing socio-economic challenges in India.
